Fujifilm Film Simulations on a Mac Preview

 

How to Check Fujifilm Film Simulations on a Mac Using Preview

If you want to see which Fujifilm Film Simulation was used for a photo on your MacBook, Preview can sometimes help. In Preview, open the image, click the Info button (or Command + I), and look through the Inspector window for metadata (right side - Picture Style - FilmSimulation). Apple’s documentation explains that Preview’s Inspector can show image information in different formats and metadata fields.

With Fujifilm files, Preview may show the Film Simulation in two different ways. Sometimes it shows the friendly name, such as Classic Chrome or Classic Negative. Other times, it shows a number like 1536 or 2048 instead. When that happens, the number is the Fujifilm FilmMode metadata value stored in the file. ExifTool’s Fujifilm tag documentation maps these numeric FilmMode values to the corresponding Film Simulation names.

Fujifilm’s Film Simulations are the company’s built-in color looks, based on its long film heritage. Fujifilm describes them as different “looks” created through changes in contrast, hue, and color rendering, with names such as PROVIA, CLASSIC CHROME, and CLASSIC Neg.

Common Fujifilm Film Simulation Numbers You May See in Preview

If Preview shows a number instead of a name, use this reference:

• 0 = PROVIA / Standard = F0/Standard, 0, 0 -> STD
• 288 = ASTIA / Soft = F1b/Studio Portrait Smooth Skin Tone, 288, 288
  ExifTool also lists this as “F1b/Studio Portrait Smooth Skin Tone (Astia)”.
• 512 = Velvia / Vivid
• 1280 = PRO Neg. Std
• 1281 = PRO Neg. Hi
• 1536 = Classic Chrome
• 1792 = Eterna / Cinema
• 2048 = Classic Negative
• 2304 = Eterna Bleach Bypass
• 2560 = Nostalgic Neg.
• 2816 = REALA ACE = 2,816, 2,816, 2,816

What “Standard” Means

When you see Standard, that means PROVIA / Standard, which Fujifilm describes as its default, general-purpose Film Simulation. Fujifilm’s own learning materials describe PROVIA/Standard as suitable for a wide range of subjects, with faithful color reproduction and moderate contrast.

What “CC” and "NC" Means

CC stands for Classic Chrome. Fujifilm describes Classic Chrome as a more subdued look with suppressed magenta and cool shadows, inspired by documentary and magazine photography.

NC means Classic Negative