Guide: Accessing Nostalgic Negative on X-Trans bodies

Martino Hesse wrote:

Would it be possible to do something like this in android lightroom mobile? How?

No.

It is easy to do for Lightroom CC, which is the desktop version like LR Mobile. I used to use this and have Classic Neg or Nostalgic Neg as the default import preset so that when I opened LR Mobile one was there by default. But you can't switch to the other on Mobile. You just delete the camera name from the Nostalgic Neg GFX50S (or may be 100S) file where it says "restricted to", on your PC. For Classic Neg it is an XT4 file.

For LR Mobile you need to buy Cobalt Images Fuji Digital pack for £54 and the "base pack" for your camera model for £44. I switched to this and didn't notice a big enough change to do a comparison. A bonus with Cobalt is you can also use the sims on other brand cameras too. Although I also had to initiate this on my PC i.e. import the presets. Click here to see my video which briefly explains why you need to buy 2 things at Cobalt Image (I made it as it confuses some of us).

How does this post-processing method compare to dialing it in as a custom setting right in the camera, following the recepie from Fuji X Weekly?

https://fujixweekly.com/2021/02/07/new-nostalgic-negative-film-simulation-x-trans-iv-nostalgic-negative-recipe/

e_kjellgren wrote:

How does this post-processing method compare to dialing it in as a custom setting right in the camera, following the recepie from Fuji X Weekly?

https://fujixweekly.com/2021/02/07/new-nostalgic-negative-film-simulation-x-trans-iv-nostalgic-negative-recipe/

I know you aren't asking me and I haven't tried his NN, but... Surely you can see that the sample photos look terrible? His recipes mess with white balance so they are not versatile at all. Which is why most sample shots are a ball in front of a sky, or a roof in front of a sky. The female photo looks like something I edited on Polarr when I first started 😳😂 i.e. totally unnatural and over edited. His Classic Neg was totally wrong, especially the reds.

Surely you can see this looks terrible?  Nostalgic Negative is very flattering for people and nothing like this:

From FujiXWeekly 🙄 It is a shame he doesn't provide the raf file so we could show you.

It's not worth your time playing with his NN or CN imo. The C1 or Lightroom hacks are easy to do (after you have done it once) and provide excellent results. IMO FujiXWeekly is probably just good for emulating certain looks in certain conditions. I don't bother as I love CN and NN so much that I use them from proper sources (C1, LR and now Cobalt). Free presets will get you far closer than a recipe.

Exactly the information I needed, thanks!

e_kjellgren wrote:

How does this post-processing method compare to dialing it in as a custom setting right in the camera, following the recepie from Fuji X Weekly?

https://fujixweekly.com/2021/02/07/new-nostalgic-negative-film-simulation-x-trans-iv-nostalgic-negative-recipe/

I enjoy and have this in my camera. I also enjoy and use the classic negative and others as recipes.  I also use them properly with out using other software and hacks.  To each their own.

yayatosorus wrote:

Preface:

One of the reasons many of us enjoy using Fujifilm cameras is the access to Film simulations. Unfortunately, Fuji has been reluctant to update older camera models with some of the newer Film simulations, like Nostalgic Negative, which is (as of now) only accessible on GFX cameras. Fortunately, there are a few workarounds, with the most streamlined being (IMO) the Capture One solution.

Before I start, I must note that this only works (as of now) with the latest installment of the software: Capture One 21.

• If you do not own the paid Pro version, you can always download the free Capture One 21 Express for Fuji.
• If you're currently using an older version of C1 with a catalog, and wish to concurrently use the older version of C1 alongside C1 21, make sure to back it up before launching C1 21, as you will have to upgrade your catalog in an irreversible manner.

Now that we have sorted out the details, here's how you access Nostalgic Negative on X-trans bodies:

This guide will be divided into 2 sections, to which you should refer depending on the X-Trans generation of the sensor found in your camera.

Section 1: X-TRANS III & IV

First download, install and configure Capture One 21 Pro / Express: https://www.captureone.com/en .

Mac:

Applications -> Capture one ->Capture One (no. of your C1 version).app -> (Right click) ->

Show package contents ->

/Contents/Frameworks/AppCore.framework/Versions/A/Resources/Film Curves

Windows:

Once everything is set and running open the file explorer and follow this path:

C:\Program Files\Capture One\Capture One 21\Film Curves

Once you open the "Film Curves" folder and scroll to the Fuji section, you will notice two types of files, the first having a .P1X and the second a .fcrv filename extension.

Before we continue, let me quickly explain how C1 manages Fuji's "Film curve" profiles.

• In short, .fcrv files are camera specific files and .P1X are sensor specific files.
  • Since Fuji uses the same sensor across a multitude of models, each Fuji camera model has 1 .fcrv file per film simulation, while each sensor generation has 9 .P1X files per film simulation. This means that while each camera model has its own .fcrv files, there is only one camera model that "manages" the .P1X files for the rest of the models with the same sensor.
• Here are the cameras that manage P1X files by generation:
  • X-Trans III - X-H1
  • X-Trans IV - X-T3
  • GFX 50MP sensor - GFX50S
  • GFX 100MP sensor - GFX100

Scroll trough the "Film Curves" folder, and select the 9 .P1X files which start with "FujiGFX100-NN" and 1.fcrv files named "FujiGFX100-Fujifilm NOSTALGIC Neg"

And then copy and paste the 10 files to a new folder (on your desktop for example).

At this point you will have to rename the files.

• Rename the 1 .fcrv file with the SAME PREFIX as the one that is used by YOUR camera model
• Rename the 9 .P1X files with the SAME PREFIX as the one that is used by the camera model that manages the P1X files for the sensor generation of your camera.
• If you're not sure about the prefix, scroll trough the "Film Curves" folder to find out the correct naming.
• For example: In the case of the X-T4, the 1 .fcrv file will start with "FujiXT4" instead of "FujiGFX100" and the 9 .PIX files will start with "FujiXT3" instead of "FujiGFX100"

Once you finish renaming the files, MAKE SURE TO DOUBLE CHECK EVERYTHING. Any spelling mistake will result in Nostalgic Negative not working correctly.

After that, select the 10 files you have just renamed and drag then in the "Film Curves" folder.

And you're all set! Launch C1 and enjoy the new film sim.

Section 2: X-TRANS I & II

Capture One does not provide the possibility to change film simulations on models equipped with the X-trans I and X-Trans II sensor. However, by changing the EXIF to camera models that use the X-Trans III or IV sensor, film simulations become available.

First of all, you will need to follow the instructions laid out in the first section of this guide, in order to make an X-Trans III or IV camera compatible with Nostalgic Negative.

Once this is done, you will have to change the camera model present in the EXIF data of your files, so that the camera you chose to be compatible with Nostalgic Negative will appear as the camera that took the picture.

Example: The pictures you wish to edit were taken with an X-T10. You follow the instructions and make the X-T4 compatible with Nostalgic Negative. Once you finish doing that, you will have to rename your files to the X-T4. Once you're done with that, import the files into Capture One and edit them. After you're done with the processing, you can always rename the exported JPGs back to the X-T10.

To edit the EXIF of your files, please follow this guide: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/64591767

After the renaming is done, import your files, and you're good to go.

Hope this helps,

Cheers

I like the look of the final images. Thanks. I'll give this a try!

e_kjellgren wrote:

How does this post-processing method compare to dialing it in as a custom setting right in the camera, following the recepie from Fuji X Weekly?

https://fujixweekly.com/2021/02/07/new-nostalgic-negative-film-simulation-x-trans-iv-nostalgic-negative-recipe/

Hi,

the difference consists in accuracy. The profiles you apply in Capture One are almost identical to those you'd get in camera. If you want to actually come as close to having NN in your older cameras, Capture One is the way to go.

The Fuji X Weekly profiles are only an approximation of those profiles, with some being more accurate than others. Both methods have their merit depending on what you're looking for.

Yawlen Z wrote:

yayatosorus wrote:

e_kjellgren wrote:

How does this post-processing method compare to dialing it in as a custom setting right in the camera, following the recepie from Fuji X Weekly?

https://fujixweekly.com/2021/02/07/new-nostalgic-negative-film-simulation-x-trans-iv-nostalgic-negative-recipe/

Hi,

the difference consists in accuracy. The profiles you apply in Capture One are almost identical to those you'd get in camera. If you want to actually come as close to having NN in your older cameras, Capture One is the way to go.

The Fuji X Weekly profiles are only an approximation of those profiles, with some being more accurate than others. Both methods have their merit depending on what you're looking for.

And of course the fujixweekly February '21 blog states that the recipe was made at the request of early adopters. It comes with a clear cut disclaimer on its immature status and even improbable accuracy. Their author is known to try for revised editions, once he can avail of the right gear. And of enough comparison material and spare time, I suppose.
So far I didn't spot all that many sooc images out of the H2(S) models using the profile for real. When I would have expected a dedicated thread on it, and still do so.

Same. I’m guessing most early early xh2(s) adopters on here are also raw only shooters. I spoke with Fujixweekly and he has no interest in the xh series

lumen5 wrote:

I'm getting also very dark photos with applying NN.

The whole histogram shifts to the left.

Is this normal?

No. Please share all relevant parameters (Operating system, Capture One version, camera used, etc)

Very happy to hear that. Enjoy the sim, it's nice.

lumen5 wrote:

yayatosorus wrote:

lumen5 wrote:

I'm getting also very dark photos with applying NN.

The whole histogram shifts to the left.

Is this normal?

No. Please share all relevant parameters (Operating system, Capture One version, camera used, etc)

I have Windows 10 (version 22H2), Capture One Pro 23 (16.0.0.143).
My cameras are X100V, X-T30 and X-Pro3.

I originally took Nostalgic Negative files (10 files) as per instructions as GFX100S files. But somehow X-Pro3's RAF files became very dark. This failed already about a year ago first time. Now I gave it another shot after installation of Capture One Pro 23.

Now I took NN files from X-T5 and used those instead. Made all the files for all the cameras (X100V, X-T30 and X-Pro3) ...(So, I replaced the previous X-Pro3 files too).

And now it worked for all cameras. I guess it was just a "hick-up" of some kind... I guess from Capture One's side..(?)
Couldn't find any spelling errors with file names and while copying new files on the previous ones, Windows asked if I want to replace 10 files, so naming was identical. And actually file sizes were exact match according to Windows.

Well, I guess I'll never get to know what was it.. I doubt that it would have a difference between GFX100S NN and X-T5 NN files...but...who knows...

I browsed through my files and atleast X-Pro3 from version 1.22 to 1.32 worked now in my Capture One.

Histogram stayd put and actually I got a feeling that shadows opened up a bit (atleast in some cases) so totally different experience this time.

Could those dark files have been shot at DR200/400 and weren’t, for whatever reason, automatically corrected for brightness by C1?

Mczar2u wrote:

Thank you for posting this guide.

I did the same for previous simulations (using Capture one 20) and worked well

but with Nostalgic Negative I do not see ANY difference from Provia Standard , I repeated the process twice, with similar results

Anyone has any suggestion (outside of upgrading CO version )

Mario

Hi, unfortunately you need to upgrade to at least Capture One 21 for Nostalgic Negative to work.

Very weird indeed. Let's try some troubleshooting.

1. Verify all renamed files are present in the correct folder.

2. Try to restart Capture One / Computer.

3. Your build seems to support the X-H2/X-H2S. If all else fails, give it a go by using files from one of these cameras.