Classic Negative film simulation recipe for a mellow and uniquely Fujifilm look
I’ve been exploring mellow moods with film recipes recently, and wanted another recipe to compliment Mellow Magic and Vintage Mood, which both use Eterna. I think this image character is both unique to Fujifilm and also a beautiful tone in its own right.
For this relaxed recipe, I used Classic Negative, which has a built in nostalgic look. But, I also find it can be a bit too bold ‘as-is’ and benefits from a small amount of reining in. In this case, I trimmed highlights and reduced the saturation, and paired it with a warm colour balance based on 5000K temperature.
I kept the moody shadow tone at standard levels, which retains an impactful look. This also means that the recipe loves to work with sunlight, and is particularly pleasant when shooting towards the light. So, like it says in the Age of Aquarius song … Let the sunshine in ☀️

Age of Aquarius Film Recipe
- Simulation: Classic Negative
- Grain Effect: Weak, Small
- Colour Chrome Effect: Off
- Colour Chrome Blue: Strong
- White Balance: 5000K
- WB Shift: +5 Red, -5 Blue
- Dynamic Range: DR200
- Highlights: -1.0
- Shadows: 0.0
- Color: -3
- Sharpness: -1
- ISO Noise Reduction: -4
- Clarity: 0
- EV compensation: 0 or +1/3 (all images on this page at 0)
For more samples of this recipe, visit the Age of Aquarius user gallery with a wide selection of images taken by the readers of this site.































Classic Negative for Soft and Mellow Looks
I absolutely adore Classic Negative, and enjoy developing film recipes with it. A few others fall into the mellow or soft tones look shared by the Age of Aquarius film recipe. So, if you enjoyed this one, take a look at these as well …
- Soft Negative – one of my first creations, and still a favourite
- Kodak Portra Grainy – a Classic Negative version of this famous stock
- Decade Print – soft, with an aged colour balance
- Nostalgic Fujicolor – my take on classic Fujifilm 35mm
- Classic Gold – soft and retro, like old faded Kodak Gold prints
- Afternoon Delight – also named after a song, also soft tones
2 responses to “Age of Aquarius, Let the Sunshine In”
Third consecutive time in Mexico where I have been backpacking for exactly 2 weeks now. The recipe produces a browner tone in sunny and warm Mexico.
Macheros village of 300 residents: https://i.imgur.com/sdV8AFm.jpg
Macheros is at a elevation of over 2000 metres: https://i.imgur.com/kO3eOys.jpg
Monarch butterfly sanctuary at Sierra Chincua: https://i.imgur.com/pmgZpNn.jpg
Massive thistle (Sierra Chincua): https://i.imgur.com/6xjjVWG.jpg
Monarch murals and paintings everywhere in this part of Mexico: https://i.imgur.com/xrrDoCK.jpg
Morelia, capital of Michoacan state: https://i.imgur.com/hFTIZDn.jpg
Street musician, tablet replaces music sheets. (Morelia): https://i.imgur.com/eC0w8wR.jpg
17 century aqueduct, 250 arches, 7 kilometres long (Morelia): https://i.imgur.com/ALmGN5O.jpg
How the colours render indoor and in very low light:
Craft beers (Morelia) https://i.imgur.com/5mAFD6G.jpg
Hot chocolate (Morelia): https://i.imgur.com/bq8xg8C.jpg
Window: https://i.imgur.com/KmTPasf.jpg
Thou shall not pass (Chapala): https://i.imgur.com/H6q5Ey8.jpg
Fishing boats (Chapala): https://i.imgur.com/WS15mGU.jpg
Pleasure boats (Chapala): https://i.imgur.com/9w6JDRz.jpg
Lakeside promenade (Chapala): https://i.imgur.com/JU9TJ6e.jpg
Men in costumes (Chapala): https://i.imgur.com/9tEaQnn.jpg
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Such wonderful images. I have a real feel for the place. I really love the colours on the butterfly as well.
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