Film Recipes for Fujifilm Cameras

Astia Mellow, a Retro Film-Like Look

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.

A film-like retro look, with the Astia Mellow film recipe

Astia Mellow Film Recipe

  • Simulation: Astia / Soft
  • Grain Effect: Strong, Small
  • Colour Chrome Effect: Strong
  • Colour Chrome Blue: Weak (IV) / Off (V)
  • 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.

Sweet chestnuts on the forest floor, Astia Mellow film recipe
Astia Mellow brings out the softer Autumn tones
Turning leaves bouquet, captured with Astia Mellow film recipe
Nibbling acorns in the New Forest, with Astia Mellow film recipe
Summer trail in New Forest, with Astia Mellow film recipe
Boardwalk scene, taken with Astia Mellow film recipe
Basketball hoop in the city park, Astia Mellow film recipe
Sweet pea flowers, captured with Astia Mellow film recipe
Railway signal, captured with Astia Mellow film recipe
Early morning light by the river, Astia Mellow film recipe
Morning walk at low tide, taken with the Astia Mellow film recipe
The British love their beach huts, Astia Mellow film recipe
Fishing in the shallows, taken with Astia Mellow film recipe
An autumn mushroom, captured with Astia Mellow film recipe
Fully open fly amantia, using the Astia Mellow film recipe
A soft sunset on a 30C day, with Astia Mellow
Beach vibes, with the Astia Mellow film recipe
Swan family on the river, Astia Mellow film recipe
Riverside path on a warm afternoon, Astia Mellow film recipe
On the sea wall, with Astia Mellow film recipe
Calm waters and overgrown groyne, Astia Mellow film recipe
Sun trying to break through, Astia Mellow film recipe
Urban exploration, Astia Mellow film recipe
Old bridge details, Astia Mellow film recipe
The Manchester train on the way, with Astia Mellow film recipe
City view from the bridge, Astia Mellow film recipe
A relaxed way to avoid traffic jams, with Astia Mellow film recipe
The sailing club getting ready, with Astia Mellow film recipe
Off they go … sailing away with Astia Mellow film recipe
A bright boat on a sunny day, Astia Mellow film recipe
A nautical marker, using the Astia Mellow film recipe

More Recipes with Astia Film Simulation

If you enjoy the Astia look, here are some more recipes that use it as a base.

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

Comments

14 responses to “Astia Mellow, a Retro Film-Like Look”

  1. lu Avatar

    Astia doesn’t get enough love IMO – trying to find new Astia-based recipes, since my sims are all CC based.

    1. justingould Avatar

      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.

  2. TheCameraEatsFirst Avatar
    TheCameraEatsFirst

    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.

    1. justingould Avatar

      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 :

  3. Thocles Avatar

    Beautiful captures.

    1. justingould Avatar

      Thanks very much 🙂

  4. TheCameraEatsFirst Avatar
    TheCameraEatsFirst

    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

    1. justingould Avatar

      Thanks, as always for sharing your photos, and for using up some of your vacation time on the October recipe challenge.

  5. TheCameraEatsFirst Avatar
    TheCameraEatsFirst

    – A carriageway cuts right through the lava field: https://i.imgur.com/q34FPeV.jpg

  6. TheCameraEatsFirst Avatar
    TheCameraEatsFirst

    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

    1. justingould Avatar

      Thank you. I love the little leaf

  7. Yogendra Avatar
    Yogendra

    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.

    1. justingould Avatar

      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

      1. Yogendra Avatar
        Yogendra

        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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