VSCO X Film Presets and What They’re Best For

VSCO X is a membership program for the photography app VSCO. It’s a yearly subscription that offers members exclusive film emulation presets. Members also have access to the entire library of 130+ presets. The membership costs US$19.99/year.

VSCO releases a new Film X preset every month, so this list will be continually updated. I’ll also highlight each month’s film or editing tool for our Cool Stuff Found category. You can read my VSCO X review here.

Some films can be used for different types of photography, so I think it’s easier just to alphabetically list them instead of breaking it down into genres, because some films would be in multiple categories. There are far more color films than black and white films, so I’ll designate the black and white films with (BW).

Finally, you can also find the list of films in a public Google Doc I’ve created, which should make searching easier.

Film X

Agfa Ultra 100 (AU1)

Ideal for bringing cloudy or dull settings to life, AU1 is the successor to AU5. Although AU1 and AU5 are similar in high contrast and bright color, AU1 is cooler and has a more balanced color palette, ideal for all skin tones.

Agfa Ultra 50 (AU5)

AU5 is renowned for producing the most outlandish, over-saturated colors of any negative film since its release in 1991. While AU5 boosts all tones, it especially brings warm colors to life, making it ideal for landscape photography over portraiture.

Agfa Vista 400 (AV4)

This versatile preset provides an authentic film look with a subtle character. Its cool tones and natural colors are great for snapshots and urban portraits. AV4 has medium contrast and saturation and slightly reddish skin tones. Try increasing the character slider to bump up the contrast slightly and turn the highlights pink, or reducing the character for a slight greenish fade. AV4 is a perfect go-to film for a day trip.

Agfa Vista 800 (AV8)

Discontinued from the mid 2000s, AV8 is a high-speed consumer film with a classic aesthetic. It yields a strong fade that cleans up quickly with positive character and multiplies even faster in the negative for a melancholy yet hopeful feel. AV8 has medium contrast and slightly muted color, making it ideal for snapshots and casual portraits.

Fuji Neopan 1600 (FN16) | (BW)

FN16 is a bold, high contrast, high-speed black and white film. It was designed to bring subjects to life in difficult low-light situations. Underexposure reduces contrast and fades shadows significantly. Overexposure increases contrast and deepens shadows. FN16 is ideal for photojournalism, street photography, and concerts. Add a medium to large amount of grain for an authentic look.

Fuji Pro 160S (FP1)

FP1 is a low contrast film, notable for the way it elegantly renders skin tone. The film has good exposure latitude, while the colors enhance the image to create a ‘glorified reality.’ FP1 is a superb selection for outdoor portraits, particularly when the subject is surrounded by natural colors. Add a small amount of grain for an authentic look.

Fuji Pro 160C (FP2)

FP2 is similar to Fujifilm 160S but with greater contrast and color saturation. The film renders skin tone naturally, especially when overexposed. The colors are naturally mild, but rarely flat. FP2 excels in images of nature, still life, architecture, and outdoor portraits. Add a small amount of grain for an authentic look.

Fuji Pro 400H (FP4)

FP4 is known for its unique reproduction of color and skin tone. The film exhibits medium contrast, medium grain with a good exposure latitude. FP4 is well-suited for outdoor portraits, especially against natural colors. Add a medium amount of grain for an authentic look.

Fuji Pro 800Z (FP8)

FP8 is a high contrast, low light film popular with portrait photographers. Overexposure generates saturated colors, especially in the reds. FP8 is great for outdoor or indoor portraits, fashion, and weddings. Add a medium amount of grain for an authentic look.

Fuji Provia 400X (FR4)

FR4 is a versatile, medium-high contrast color reversal (positive) film. Designed for high resolution, color saturation and flexibility in low light. Overexposure increases contrast, but can lead to blown out, pinkish highlights. Underexposure quickly loses contrast and takes on an earth tone fade. FR4 is a great general purpose film. Add a small amount of grain for an authentic look.

Photos edited with Agfa Ultra 100

Page 2: Film X Presets, Cont’d

Page 2: Film X Presets, Cont’d

 

Fuji Superia 100 (FS1)

FS1 is a film designed for consumers and pros alike. It yields cool shadows with warm highlights, creating a natural color contrast. It excels at everyday snapshots and portraits, preserving beautiful color even when underexposed.

Fuji Superia X-TRA 400 (FS4)

FS4 is an all purpose consumer film with a natural color rendering and medium contrast. Compared to Kodak films, Fuji yields greener greens and pinker skin. Over and underexposure result in small changes to color and saturation. The film remains visually appealing no matter the scene or variation.

Fuji Superia 1600 (FS16)

FS16 is an ultra high-speed color negative film. Also known as Natura 1600, it features a unique blend of lower contrast, a natural color palette, and a greenish fade. FS16 is great for dark and challenging lighting situations, as well as any photo that warrants a moodier feel.

Fuji Velvia 50 (FV5)

Since Kodachrome, no film has attracted as loyal a following as FV5. With its high contrast and richly saturated colors, it quickly became the go—to film for landscape photographers. A slight magenta cast and warm color palette make FV5 especially suited for autumn, desert, and sunset scenes.

Ilford HP5 (IH5)(BW)

IH5 is a versatile, medium contrast black and white film. While underexposure lowers contrast and fades shadows, overexposure increases contrast and deepens shadows. IH5 is an ideal choice for photojournalism and portraits. Add a medium amount of grain for an authentic look.

Kodak Ektachrome E1OOG (KA1)

Famous for enhanced saturation, strong blues, and a crisp look, KA1 was released at the height of film’s popularity in 2000. Unlike other films by Kodak, character control works backwards with KA1, strengthening color and contrast when exposure is low. Ideal for fashion, editorial, architecture, and nature photography, adjust Character and Warmth to push the limits of a classic look.

Kodak Color Plus 200 (KCP2)

Widely thought to be Kodak’s Kodacolor VR 200 from the 1980’s in new packaging. It features low contrast, low color saturation, and slightly warm inclination. It’s well suited for a wide variety of subjects, but especially excels at casual snapshots and portraiture.

Kodak Ektar 100 (KE1)

KE1 is known for bold contrast and vivid colors. It is remarkably resilient to exposure changes, showing little variation when overexposed and slight fading when underexposed. KE1 is an all-purpose film suitable for nature, still life, architecture, and fashion. Add a small amount of grain for an authentic look.

Kodak Gold 100 (KG1)

KG1 is the last of a long lineage of consumer films created by Kodak starting in 1942. As a low contrast, all-purpose film developed in the 90s, KG1 is ideal for high contrast and sunny scenes. Apply negative character to KG1 to darken warm colors with a purple tint and apply positive character to create a glowing, rosy look.

Kodak Gold 200 (KG2)

Kodak Gold 200 is a colorfully vibrant, medium contrast film. A consumer film, KG2 is designed to be versatile and reliable in a wide rage of situations. The film is forgiving and remains remarkably consistent as exposure changes. Add a medium or low amount of grain for an authentic look.

Photos edited with Fuji Superia 1600

Page 3: Film X Presets, Cont’d

Page 3: Film X Presets, Cont’d

 

Kodak Portra 160 (KP1)

KP1 is praised for producing beautiful skin tones and vivid colors. When overexposed, the reds and oranges are especially vibrant. When underexposed, however, the film quickly becomes muted and subtle. KP1 is optimized for outdoor portraits, especially in even, flat light. Add a small amount of grain for an authentic look.

Kodak Portra 160NC (KP2)

Designed specifically for professional portrait and wedding photographers, KP2 was part of the original Portra series from 1998. The film was celebrated for capturing natural colors and skin tones in controlled lighting scenarios. With its slightly lower contrast, KP2 was unmatched in professional portraiture.

Kodak Portra 160VC (KP3)

Designed specifically for professional portrait and wedding photographers, KP3 is part of the original 1998 Portra series. Like Portra 160NC, this film is prized for producing natural skin tones. It differs, however, in yielding greater contrast and more vivid colors.

Kodak Portra 400 (KP4)

KP4 is a versatile, all-purpose film renowned for its vibrant colors. If you are unsure what filter to use, this film is a natural starting point. KP4 produces natural skin tones, making it a go-to selection for wedding and fashion portraits. Add a small amount of grain for an authentic look.

Kodak Portra 800 (KP8)

KP8 is a medium contrast, low light film. Overexposure increases saturation while retaining natural skin tones. Underexposure fades the shadows and mellows contrast, producing a slightly blue tone in some lighting conditions. KP8 also handles difficult lighting scenarios as daylight fades. Add a small amount of grain for an authentic look.

Kodak Portra 100T (KP9)

This unique tungsten film has an overall blue cast and noticeably lower contrast, which makes it perfect for lamp-lit settings of subjects, or for when you want a more faded film look. Warm colors all get darker and richer, moving towards red-orange, while blues become lighter using this preset. Note: I’ve noticed photos that contain a lot of white look brighter.

Kodak T-MAX 3200 (KT32) | (BW)

KT32 is a high contrast, grainy film. When underexposed, it loses contrast and quickly fades. Overexposure increases contrast to high levels, creating a dramatic mood. KT32 is well-suited for photojournalism, street photography, and concerts. Add a large amount of grain for an authentic look.

Kodak Ultra Color 100UC (KU1)

Released in 2004 and discontinued in 2008, KU1 is a unique film known for its short lifespan and high cost. Rich in color, warmth, and natural contrast, KU1 brings life to portrait, fashion, and nature photography.

Kodak UltraMax 400 (KU4)

KU4 is a vibrant, medium-high contrast film. It consistently delivers strong color and great skin tone with a touch of warmth. Add a medium or high amount of grain for an authentic look.

Kodak UltraMax 800 (KU8)

Boasting vibrant color, KU8 was Kodak’s highest speed consumer film before ISO digital cameras existed. It yields a natural look with medium-low contrast, rich oranges, red-tinted shadows, and teal-toned highlights. KU8 is ideal for portraits and casual snapshots.

Photos edited with Kodak Portra 100T

Page 4: Film X Presets, Cont’d

Page 4: Film X Presets, Cont’d

 

Kodak TRI-X 400 (KX4) | (BW)

KX4 has been the standard black and white film for countless photographers across decades. It is often considered the best black and white film ever made. The film is extremely forgiving with exposure. KX4 is very versatile, but excels in photojournalism and portraits. Add a medium amount of grain for an authentic look.

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