Dreaming - My Most Popular Fujifilm Recipe
Some film simulations just… happen. You tweak a few settings, chase a feeling, and then, without quite planning it, you’ve created something people keep asking about. Dreaming was exactly that for me.
I wanted a look that felt like memory. Not crisp, clinical recall but hazy, cinematic fragments. The kind of tone that makes you pause when scrolling, not because it’s loud or sharp, but because it feels like you’ve been there before.
The Look
Dreaming lives somewhere between romantic nostalgia and cinematic storytelling.
The colours lean warm and inviting, but there’s a softness. Shadows are gentle, highlights stay tame, and the grain carries that subtle grit you’d expect from a well loved 35mm print.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about emotion.
The Settings
Designed for Fujifilm X-Trans V cameras (mine’s the X100VI), Dreaming makes the most of Fuji’s latest colour science (but you can still get close with other sensors if you adjust slightly).
Dreaming:
Base Simulation: Classic Negative
Grain: Small / Strong
Color Chrome Effect: Off
White Balance: Daylight (R+4, B-5)
Dynamic Range: DR200
Highlight: -2
Shadow: +1
Color: +3
Sharpness: -2
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -2
Note for X-Trans IV & older: You may need to nudge shadows + highlights a stop and lower colour slightly for a closer match.
Sample Shots
Below are a few examples straight out of the X100VI using the Dreaming recipe.
(No extra editing, these are straight out of camera)
When to Use It
Overcast days: The muted light pairs perfectly with the soft rendering.
Golden hour: Adds glow without oversaturating.
Indoor natural light: Creates a painterly warmth.
Still moments: Anything with mood, texture, or a story to tell.
Your Turn
Many photographers have already taken Dreaming and made it their own—you can see their work featured on my Click Club page.
It’s proof that the same recipe can tell a thousand different stories depending on who’s holding the camera.
If you try Dreaming, tag @clicks_with_alex on Instagram so I can feature your shots too. Maybe yours will be the next to inspire someone else to pick up their camera and create.
