VideoPic Blog: Pen F Profiles with DXO FilmPack 5

Last Update: 7th Aug 2021

Introduction

Ever wondered what it's like to work with Fuji film simulations on your Olympus camera? Do you like to have more flexibility or are you happy with the standard camera adjustments, like sharpness, saturation, and the WB sliders? With the Olympus Pen-F and E-P7, it's possible to create Color and Monochrome Profiles in the camera.

For example, I was curious about these film simulations in Fuji cameras, so I tried the Fuji XT-10. The Fuji simulations are interesting and they are fun to use. The downside, it's not possible to fine-tune these profiles. You literally end up with the same look as any other Fuji photographer. The benefit of using Fuji film simulations, these are complex profiles and ready to use.

It is possible to create similarly complex film simulations in WorkSpace because the Color Creator in WorkSpace allows the photographer to set the saturation, hue, and brightness. With the Pen-F and the E-P7, it's only possible to adjust saturation with the Color Creator.

See this article for more on Enhanced Raw files...

This article describes a unique method to create your own color profiles. I created different color cards with DxO FilmPak 5, and each of these color cards represents a different film simulation. Included is a standard "neutral" color card with no film look.

Probably the most important piece of advice I could pass on is to allow yourself lots of time. If you are new to creative color concepts, allow yourself lots of time and practice. It literally took me months of studying, practicing, going back to articles I read before, and to keep trying. The same is true for WorkSpace. It's a remarkable piece of software once you master it. I can only encourage readers to keep on studying my article and to keep on practicing. It's so much fun when you win...

Why create Fuji or Kodak film simulations for the Pen F?

DxO claims that..... "DxO FilmPack 5, faithfully applies legendary color-negatives, black and white film presets or slide film presets for digital images."

FilmPack 5 has different Kodak, Agfa, and Fuji film presets. The user can further modify these presets and save them as personalized profiles. If you asked me, I personally prefer working with FilmPack 5. The only reason I develop my own "scaled-down" Pen F profiles is the fun aspect and to have my own profiles when I am out photographing.

How to Create your own Profiles?

The secret with the Pen F is to know that you cannot simulate a film look as accurately as you would with DxO FimPack 5 or WorkSpace. Always use the raw + jpeg option on your camera so that you have the ability to edit your "Enhanced Raw" files in WorkSpace.

Further down in this article I created 5 image groups. Each group has a set of images with a master (neutral) on the left and a film simulation on the right. The process of creating your own profiles is simple. As you studying the film simulation, adjust the master until they look the same.

The final group of images is the same film simulations but now they are applied to a Spider Color Checker. You can download the master (neutral) color checker and the different film simulations here. I matched the colors on the Color Checker to colors on the Color Creator in WS. See my WS how-to page for more info on the V1.5 update and the new color additions.

Olympus WorkSpace

DxO film simulation and master color card opened in WorkSpace

To create your own profiles, open both the film simulation and the master copy in WorkSpace. The film simulation is your master and your aim is to apply the colors in the film simulation to the master copy with the WS color creator. This really is an advanced method of creating profiles and requires lots of practice. See the steps below and see if they work for you:-

Before adjusting the master, study the 2 templates. Summarize all the differences
Identify the dominant colors or any specific look like pastel and write it all down
The numbers on the color card correspond with the numbers on the color creator
It works well to start with RGB colors, followed by CMY colors, then adjust the rest
List the steps and color sequence you think you need to follow when creating the profile
These first few steps are important because its a process you develop and improve on
Start with RGB colors adjusting saturation, hue & luminance, then CMY and others
Adjust small steps at a time, finish one color before moving to the next
Some colors have more than one number - it takes a little more time to master
Make regular breaks - after 15 minutes they all look the same...
The final step is to test your profiles and to compare them with the profile images
I strongly recommend you get DXO Filmpack 5. These are still the best profiles

The best way to develop your own profiles is practice. As I listed above starting with RGB colors is one way of progressing when building your profiles. Another method that works well is, follow the above steps analyzing and prepping your new profile. Instead of starting with RGB colors, follow these steps:-

Select "All Colors" on the creator and test if a "global" saturation change is required
Deselect the "All Colors" and target individual colors following the next 3 steps below
Next target all the single-digit colors and adjust them (Example is the colors marked "1")
Next adjust colors with double numbers, where one of the numbers were one of the above
You will see very few numbers are left to adjust after following the above sequence
Testing and fine-tuning your new profile is critical - this takes time and patients

Keep in mind the Color Creator in WorkSpace is more powerful than the Color Creator in your Pen F. You will typically build separate profiles, one for WorkSpace using the 3 color profile options Hue, Saturation, and Brightness, and a separately simplified profile for the Pen F using only saturation.

Color Profile in WorkSpace

As said, it is a little more challenging to create profiles for the Pen F because the Pen F color profile will mainly have saturation changes. Think of combining the color creator with curves and contrast adjustments, or in special cases fine-tune the camera WB sliders to get a final look. I mostly develop my Pen F profiles with WorkSpace. When done, I enter the profile manually into my Pen F.

I keep a list of all my profiles information on my mobile phone. For more information on how to save your Pen F profiles to your PC, see my WorkSpace, how-to page (Technique #7).

The image below is from this Olympus website.

Image pulled from the web with Exif data of the profile used

See my Creative Color series Part 6, discussing how to work with color in WorkSpace. You could also consider downloading a test version of DxO FilmPack 5.

Use the master color checker to copy Fuji profiles or any other profiles you like to use as inspiration. Always have a separate master copy ready and use a "working" master to photograph or apply software profiles as inspiration when creating new profiles.