Creating Fujifilm Film Simulation Recipes with AI
I’ve always been a fan of the classic look of film—deep colors, distinctive grain, and that intangible warmth you can’t quite replicate with digital. But thanks to my Fujifilm X100VI and a surprisingly powerful new helper—ChatGPT—I’ve been able to approximate those vintage vibes without much effort.
In this post, I’ll share how I used ChatGPT to develop in-camera film simulation recipes for my favorite film stocks. I tested recipes inspired by Kodak Portra 400, Kodachrome, and Cinestill 400D (I haven’t tried the Ektachrome recipe…yet!). You’ll see side-by-side comparisons of my standard Fuji settings versus the AI-suggested simulations. If you’re after a subtle filmic aesthetic straight out of the camera on your Fujifilm Camera, this just might be the spark you need.
Why I Turned to ChatGPT:
Like a lot of photographers, I’ve scoured blogs and forums for film simulations—but it’s easy to get lost in an endless cycle of trial and error. With ChatGPT, all I have to do is describe the film look I’m after—“Give me a Portra 400 vibe,” for instance—and it offers a comprehensive set of tweaks: from white balance shifts to highlight and shadow tone. I then dial those settings into my Fujifilm X100VI, shoot, and review. If I want to tweak the saturation or shadow detail, I simply ask ChatGPT to refine its suggestions or make adjustments on the fly.
You can find a link to my conversation with ChatGPT and the film recipes showcased below here: https://chatgpt.com/share/6779fc48-e5fc-8010-8bde-b5139b826b80
The Film Looks I Tested:
1. Kodak Portra 400-Inspired
What I Noticed: A delicate warmth, muted greens, gentle contrast, and flattering skin tones—great for portraits or any everyday scene with softer light. It doesn’t overdo saturation, so it’s also perfect for capturing casual street moments.
2. Kodachrome-Inspired
What I Noticed: Punchy reds, vibrant blues, and a nostalgic “travel documentary” vibe. If you’re shooting bright, sunny scenes or seeking a classic look straight out of a vintage photo magazine, this recipe hits the mark. Contrast is high on this one, I’d recommend shooting at +1/3 to +1 EV or lifting the shadow tone in the recipe.
3. Cinestill 400D-Inspired (My Personal Favorite)
What I Noticed: A cinematic flair with moderate contrast and pleasing, balanced color. It’s not going to produce those trademark halation glows of real Cinestill (that’s more about the film’s remjet layer removal), but it’s nice for cityscapes or indoor setups when you want a slightly dramatic & de-saturated mood - not to mention perfect blue sky hues.
My Testing Process:
1. Same Scenes, Different Settings
I took these photos one after the other leveraging a standard Provia set up with no adjustments, followed then by each GPT provided recipe. The subjects are obviously a little boring, but still life is great for the sake of comparison. Between the two sets, you have examples of the effects on all the primary & secondary colors in daylight. All shots were shot at ƒ/5.6 with zero exposure compensation.
2. Straight Out of Camera (SOOC)
I religiously shoot RAW, but truth be told, my least favorite part of photography is the photo-editing process. I’ve never really played with SOOC images or shooting JPEGs, but it’s something I want to experiment with in 2025. All images above are SOOC - save for a slight compression in size to make them more web-friendly. I did shoot with SquareHood’s 10% Haze Filter. (which I can not recommend enough!)
3. Fine-Tuning
Sometimes I’d ask ChatGPT, “Hey, how can I get a bit more contrast?” or “Can I soften shadows slightly?” The AI would promptly suggest minor changes—like adjusting Shadow Tone from +1 down to 0—so I could keep refining until the look felt right.
What I Learned:
• Consistency: Using the same simulation over an entire shoot adds a unified visual aesthetic—similar to shooting a single roll of film.
• Easy Setup: Once I decided on settings, I saved them to my X100VI’s custom presets. Flipping between Portra 400-inspired or CineStill takes about two seconds.
• Embrace Imperfection: Real film has nuances and quirks—grain, color shifts, even light leaks. While these recipes won’t replicate all of that, they do add character you might not get from standard digital profiles.
Practical Tips:
1. RAW+JPEG: If you have the card space, it’s worth capturing both. The film-like JPEG can be your final image, while the RAW file offers a fallback for tricky lighting or future edits.
2. Watch Highlights: Slide film–inspired looks (like Kodachrome) can be a bit unforgiving with bright highlights, so keep an eye on your histogram.
3. Experiment with Exposure: Slight overexposure (+⅓ or +½ stop) can push that dreamy Portra vibe, while underexposure might give a richer, moodier Cinestill feel.
4. Stay Open to Surprises: Enjoy the unexpected results—sometimes a small tweak to white balance or color tone can yield a look you genuinely love.
What’s Next?
Though I haven’t tried the Ektachrome-inspired simulation yet, I’m excited to see how it performs—especially for landscapes or outdoor scenes where those cooler, more saturated blues might pop. I’m heading to Tahoe this week and I feel like that’ll be the right place to give it a shot. I’ll be sure to share my results as soon as I do.
Wrapping Up
If you’re craving a bit of analog flair in your digital photography, I can’t recommend this method enough. ChatGPT acts like a knowledgeable photo companion, quickly suggesting ways to make your Fuji shots look more “film-like” without endless trial and error. While no digital simulation can replace the experience of shooting and developing real film, these recipes come surprisingly close to capturing a classic vibe.
Thanks for reading—and I hope it inspires you to try something new with your X100VI (or any Fuji camera you happen to own). Slide into my DM’s on IG and let me know which recipe you’re most interested in, or share your own ChatGPT-inspired settings. And if you do give the Ektachrome simulation a go before I do, I’d love to hear your impressions. Until then, happy shooting!
