As Fujifilm X-series photographers, we are blessed by the choices offered by the amazing built in film simulations in our cameras. For a Kodachrome style, we have Classic Chrome, for a Fujicolor style, we have Classic Negative, and for a more contemporary film-like appearance, there is Astia.
Over time, I’ve come to love Astia more and more, and have been using it as a base for film recipes. There’s something subtle, almost indescribable about the tone it produces. A sort of creamy green balance that adds a mellowness. In this recipe, I’ve looked to bring out this essence of that film like look and a mellow overall feel.
Astia Mellow Film Recipe
- Simulation: Astia / Soft
- Grain Effect: Strong, Small
- Colour Chrome Effect: Strong
- Colour Chrome Blue: Weak
- White Balance: Shade / Overcast / Cloudy
- WB Shift: +5 Red, -3 Blue
- Dynamic Range: DR200
- Highlights: -2
- Shadows: -1
- Colour: -4
- Sharpness: 0
- ISO Noise Reduction: -4
- Clarity: 0
- EV compensation: +1/3
This recipe was inspired in part by the Astia recipe New American Color.
Take a look at the Astia Mellow user gallery to see more Astia Mellow images shared by readers of this website.
More Recipes with Astia Film Simulation
If you enjoy the Astia look, here are some more recipes that use it as a base.
- Astia Geographic – A bright and colourful recipe for sunny days
- Centre Court – cheerful and bright recipe with lovely colour
Top picks from other recipe websites.
- Film – Øyvind Nordhagen’s excellent film like recipe
- New American Color – another fab setting from Øyvind Nordhagen
- CineStill 50D – another wonderful film look, from Fuji X Weekly
- 1979 – wonderfully retro, bright look by Craig Bergonzoni
- Ektachrome E100GX – Astia based Kodak style, by Fuji X Weekly
Film Recipes for Fujifilm Cameras 
14 responses to “Astia Mellow, a Retro Film-Like Look”
Astia doesn’t get enough love IMO – trying to find new Astia-based recipes, since my sims are all CC based.
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I have to agree with you. It’s a really interesting base sim and can produce some interesting recipes. You’ll be glad to hear that I have five more in development.
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Nice sim and lovely photos! I also like Astia (and other older sims before CC etc).
Minimalist-esque photo “Fishing in the shallows” is my favourite in this set.
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Thank you. In this area, the beach is almost flat, so you can walk out up to 50m and it still is less than 1m deep. It’s also very popular with beginner windsurfers and paddleboarders for the same reason. If you fall of, you can just stand up and get back on :
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Beautiful captures.
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Thanks very much 🙂
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Returned from Lanzarote this week. I only have these for today.
– House of plants: https://i.imgur.com/cSAFzDk.jpg
– On Lanzarote only 3 traditional colours for doors and windows are used, various shades of blue (most common in coastal villages)/green (most common everywhere)/brown (less common): https://i.imgur.com/iX5gGfN.jpg
– A typical road in a coastal village: https://i.imgur.com/2Cke91X.jpg
– Mucho sol. Si, mi gusta! https://i.imgur.com/JHswHO8.jpg
– Mucho volcanes. Lanzarote is born of fire. This area north of the island is called “bad lands”. Lava covers a vast surface so you can’t farm or do much, the only things that thrives are all kinds of wild plants. https://i.imgur.com/4AiiszR.jpg
– A carriageway cuts right through the lava field:
– Coastal walking trail. Lava reaches far into the sea. https://i.imgur.com/4h8hBcn.jpg
– Lava has near countless uses in the archipelago. https://i.imgur.com/Hvls2DH.jpg
– High tide and the stairs: https://i.imgur.com/NxYhxeo.jpg
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Thanks, as always for sharing your photos, and for using up some of your vacation time on the October recipe challenge.
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– A carriageway cuts right through the lava field: https://i.imgur.com/q34FPeV.jpg
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Only 4 since I got home from holiday.
– No entry. https://i.imgur.com/UAaJ4uS.jpg
– They have no business entering the woods. A sign doesn’t stop motocrossers, though. It’s a big problem here. No personnel and nobody cares. https://i.imgur.com/Ayw5nR2.jpg
– At the farm again. I bought the pale orange one on top. https://i.imgur.com/WVHtn8F.jpg
– Half eaten leaf. https://i.imgur.com/vq5tlQF.jpg
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Thank you. I love the little leaf
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I like all the Astia film sim and planning to use them next week travel to Ladakh region in India. Not sure how this would come up. But I will surely try some of the Astia film.
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I once visited Nepal and the mountains. It’s so beautiful. I’m sure this would work well. Please do share some images when you get back
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Here is the album i created for Astia Mellow.
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAXH49
It is so beautiful recipe. I enjoyed it a lot. I also have used Kodak Ultramax. Will post it in a day or 2.
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