Classic Chrome: muted colour, deep tone
Classic Chrome is Fujifilm's documentary look: subdued colour, firmer shadows and a cooler, slightly cyan sky. 43 of the 48 cameras on this site have it; RAF Film Lab renders it on RAFs from the other five too.
What does Classic Chrome look like?
Fujifilm introduced Classic Chrome with the X30 and the X100T in 2014, modelled on the look of the slide film in old magazine photojournalism. Saturation drops, especially in reds and greens, and the tone curve deepens shadows so a frame reads as serious rather than bright.
It quickly became the most popular simulation among street photographers, and many of the best-known recipes start from it. The X-T1 received it in a firmware update; the X-E1, X-Pro1, X-M1, X100 and X100S never did.
Which cameras have Classic Chrome?
43 of the 48 cameras RAF Film Lab has a page for. The ones without it are the X100S, X-M1, X-Pro1, X-E1 and X100; RAF Film Lab renders it on their RAFs too.
X-T30 III, X-E5, GFX100RF, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, GFX100S II, X-S20, GFX100 II, X-T5, X-H2S, X-H2, X-T30 II, X-E4, GFX50S II, GFX100S, X100V, X-T4, X-T200, X-S10, X-T30, X-Pro3, X-A7, GFX100, XF10, X-T3, X-T100, X-H1, X-A5, GFX 50R, X100F, X-T20, X-E3, GFX 50S, X70, X-T2, X-Pro2, X-E2S, X-A3, X-T10, X100T, X-T1, X-E2
Can I use Classic Chrome on a camera that doesn't have it?
A RAF holds the sensor's data, not a film, so any film can be applied to it afterwards. The camera and X RAW STUDIO can only use the films that camera has; RAF Film Lab renders Classic Chrome itself, on RAFs from every camera below.
How close is RAF Film Lab's Classic Chrome to the camera's?
We shot 31 RAWs on an X100VI and had Fujifilm's X RAW STUDIO develop each one in Classic Chrome, using the camera's own processor. RAF Film Lab's Classic Chrome lands at a median of 2.01 ΔE from the camera's (mean 2.51), scored as CIEDE2000 colour difference over flat areas of every frame.
About 2 ΔE is roughly the smallest colour difference most people notice side by side. The films were measured on the X100VI; other cameras' RAFs are read with their own colour matrix, but we haven't published scores for their sensors yet. How we measure.
When should you use Classic Chrome?
- Street and documentary work.
- Overcast cities, where Velvia would look garish.
- Recipe foundations. Add Color Chrome Effect, a warm WB shift and lowered Highlight Tone for the classic street recipes.
In RAF Film Lab: Develop in Film Lab · Develop in camera · Applying Recipes · Recipe Management
Classic Chrome questions
Which Fujifilm cameras have Classic Chrome?
43 of the 48 cameras RAF Film Lab has a page for. The ones without it are the X100S, X-M1, X-Pro1, X-E1 and X100; RAF Film Lab renders it on their RAFs too.
Can I use Classic Chrome on X100S RAW files?
Yes. The X100S never got Classic Chrome, so neither the camera nor X RAW STUDIO can apply it. RAF Film Lab renders Classic Chrome from any X100S RAF on Mac, iPad and iPhone.
Can I use Classic Chrome on X-E1 RAW files?
Yes. The X-E1 never got Classic Chrome, so neither the camera nor X RAW STUDIO can apply it. RAF Film Lab renders Classic Chrome from any X-E1 RAF on Mac, iPad and iPhone.
Can I use Classic Chrome on X-Pro1 RAW files?
Yes. The X-Pro1 never got Classic Chrome, so neither the camera nor X RAW STUDIO can apply it. RAF Film Lab renders Classic Chrome from any X-Pro1 RAF on Mac, iPad and iPhone.
Can X RAW STUDIO apply Classic Chrome to an X100S RAW?
No. X RAW STUDIO uses the camera's own processor, so it only offers the films that camera has, and the X100S never got Classic Chrome. RAF Film Lab renders it from the RAW alone.
Develop your RAFs in Classic Chrome.
RAF Film Lab is in beta on TestFlight for Mac, iPad and iPhone. Leave your email and Apple will send you an invite.