Film Recipe - Imai - Soft Filmic Look (Monochrome)

Unlock the art of timeless photography with my Fujifilm soft black and white film recipe named after the legendary Fujifilm Desiner Masazumi Imai. Discover the secrets to capturing stunning monochrome moments with a touch of nostalgia. Perfect for those seeking classic elegance in every frame.

Imai: Soft Film Like Monochrome Fujifilm Recipe

Imai Fujifilm Film Recipe

My original X100, signed by Masazumi Imai

This recipe is personal. Named after Masazumi Imai, the legendary designer behind the original Fujifilm X100 and the wider X/GFX series, Imai is my quiet tribute to the elegance he brought to digital photography.

I’ve been fortunate enough to meet Masazumi-san several times in Tokyo over the years. At one of our last meetings, he graciously signed my original X100—a small gesture, perhaps, but it’s something I’ll always treasure. It felt like a full circle moment, holding the camera that changed the way I saw photography, with the signature of the person who helped make it.

This recipe echoes that sense of quiet, thoughtful design. It’s subtle. Gentle. More tonal than dramatic. Think soft monochrome with just enough shadow lift to create depth without force. It’s not about impact. It’s about presence.

Fujifilm JPEG Settings:

• Film Simulation - Acros + R

• Grain Effect - Weak

• Grain Size - Small

• Monochromatic Colour - WC:1 MG:0

• WB Shift - R:-1 B:+1

• Highlight Tone - -1

• Shadow Tone - +2.5

• Sharpness - 0

• Clarity - +1

Notes on the Settings

ACROS+R gives just enough richness to the shadows, but in this case it’s dialled back a little through the tonal controls. The red filter brings quiet contrast to skin and sky, which helps maintain definition without harshness.

Grain Effect: Weak / Small was a deliberate choice. The original Pan F and Neopan films Imai-san would have known weren’t noisy—they were clean, elegant, and deliberate. This preserves that character.

White Balance Shift R:-1 / B:+1 cools the image ever so slightly. Combined with Monochromatic Colour WC:+1, there’s a faint lift in the whites—just enough to create a lighter, quieter feel overall.

Highlight Tone -1 / Shadow Tone +2.5 makes the contrast feel soft but dimensional. You’ll get detail in bright areas, with shadows that feel deep without being heavy. The balance here is subtle but important.

Sharpness at 0 keeps the image natural. Not too crisp, not too soft. It’s the kind of neutral sharpness that feels honest.

Clarity +1 adds a touch of presence without overwhelming the softness. It helps define midtones, especially in natural light. Any higher, and the character of the recipe starts to change.

High ISO NR at 0 keeps the image clean without stripping away the gentle film-like feel. You could reduce it if you prefer more texture, but this setting keeps it balanced.

Artistic Reasoning

Imai is a soft monochrome look for thoughtful photography. It doesn’t try to command attention. It’s better suited to quiet portraits, soft morning light, or slower, more reflective scenes.

It was never meant to be dramatic. Instead, it’s rooted in subtlety, design, and a respect for simplicity. It’s a look that lets the subject speak on its own terms—like good design often does. Elegant without being distant. Understated but complete.

It won’t suit every subject. But when it fits, it leaves space for something more honest to come through. And in a way, that feels like the right kind of tribute.

NOTE: Some settings may not be available on every Fujifilm Camera

Imai: Soft Monochrome Film Simulation Recipe (Sample Images)

If you prefer Shooting RAW:

Those of you who prefer to shoot RAW and edit with the more advanced latitude this gives may be interested in my current set of Professionally designed profile-based Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw Presets.

Imai: More Sample Images