The increasing popularity of film presets has sparked a surge in the availability of preset packs and software designed to emulate specific looks, such as color palettes or film stocks. These presets are appealing for their ability to quickly transform the appearance of your photos, but there's an argument to be made for creating your own. Developing your own presets allows for a more personalized and accurate reflection of the visual style you admire.
Coming to you from Pushing Film, this helpful video discusses the nuances of using and creating film presets. It begins by showcasing a raw photo taken with a Fujifilm X100VI and applying four different Fujifilm Pro 400H film presets. The results demonstrate significant variations, highlighting the subjective nature of these interpretations. To provide a comparison, the same scene photographed on actual Fuji Pro 400H film is shown, illustrating how none of the presets match the real film scan exactly. This disparity arises from various factors like the scanning process, machine calibration, and chemical processing, making it clear that film emulations are inherently subjective.
The video emphasizes the importance of not solely relying on pre-made presets. It compares them to spice mixes in the kitchen—useful and time-saving, but not a substitute for understanding the fundamentals of seasoning and developing your taste. Editing and tweaking the results to suit your vision is crucial. The video argues that while presets can serve as a starting point, the real artistry lies in personalizing your edits to achieve the desired outcome. This approach empowers you to infuse your unique direction into your photos, rather than letting presets dictate the final look.
The video further explores the concept of creating your own presets. It explains that this process involves deciding whether to draw inspiration from existing sources or to experiment freely. For those inspired by specific looks, gathering reference points—like movie stills, favorite film stocks, or other photographers' work—is essential. These references help guide your edits and ensure consistency. It demonstrates this by using street photography inspirations like Kodachrome 35mm film, popularized by photographers such as William Eggleston, Alex Webb, and Harry Gruyaert. By studying their work, you can identify common traits and apply similar adjustments to your photos.
Creating a preset involves a series of edits and refinements. The video illustrates this process in Lightroom, starting with sample images and adjusting them to match the reference photos. It emphasizes that the goal is not to replicate the reference exactly but to create a hybrid version that suits your style. This involves tweaking hue, saturation, and luminance settings until you're satisfied with the results. The final preset serves as a starting point for future edits, ensuring a consistent look across your portfolio. Check out the video above for the full rundown.
