Film Recipes for Fujifilm Cameras

Astia film simulation recipe for X Trans IV cameras to create a New American Color look

Development of this Astia film simulation recipe for Fujifilm X Trans IV cameras, has passed through a several iterations, scrapping and restarting the look. I knew from the off that I wanted to capture the filmic palette of the New American Color style, with slightly rusty reds and a subtle pale cream-green wash to bright neutrals.

I’d also been inspired by the tremendous New American Color film recipe by Øyvind Nordhagen, and knew that working with Astia simulation was the likely route to success. Our recipes are different, bringing separate elements of the style to the fore. You may enjoy both for different situations, but I hope you’ll have fun trying them out.

As for the Waldorf name, I wanted something with an American ring to it, and ideally something to incorporate Astia in there too. So, inspired by the historic landmark Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York, I settled on Waldorf Astia for this New American look.

You can see many more samples with Waldorf Astia in the user gallery from the Film Recipes Challenge. Take a look.

Waldorf Astia Film Recipe

• Simulation: Astia/Soft
• Grain Effect: Weak, Small
• Colour Chrome Effect: Strong
• Colour Chrome Blue: Off
• White Balance: 6750K
• WB Shift: -4 Red, +4 Blue
• Dynamic Range: DR200
• Highlights: +1.0
• Shadows: -1.0
• Color: -2
• Sharpness: -1
• ISO Noise Reduction: -4
• Clarity: +2
• EV compensation: 0 or +1/3

NB: These details were updated on April 3rd, 2023. The earlier version of the recipe, which has a warmer, nostalgic Astia look, has been published separately as Waldorf Warm.

Astia Film Simulation Recipes

I’ve been creating various recipes with Astia, working with it’s film like qualities and mellow colour tones. Here are a few others to take a look at…

• Astia Geographic – bright and colourful for outdoor shots
• Kodak Ultramax – capturing the Kodak film vibe with Astia
• Vintage Astia – give your photos a nostalgic negative look

The first version of Waldorf Astia

This recipe has been through a couple of iterations, and was initially published with these details. It now has its own page, Waldorf Warm.

• Simulation: Astia/Soft
• Grain Effect: Weak, Small
• Colour Chrome Effect: Weak
• Colour Chrome Blue: Weak
• White Balance: 8600K
• WB Shift: -4 Red, +6 Blue
• Dynamic Range: DR200
• Highlights: +1.0
• Shadows: -1.0
• Color: -2
• Sharpness: -1
• ISO Noise Reduction: -4
• Clarity: +2
• EV compensation: 0 or +1/3