Digital technology has forever changed the way many people take photographs. However, there is still something about the character certain traditional films gave to photographs captured on those films that many photographers greatly miss and want to recapture...without giving up their digital conveniences. DxO's FilmPack 3 puts the feel of some of the most loved traditional films back into a digital photographer's toolkit.
What I Like About It
- Stand Alone or Plug In
DxO has bundled both the "essentials" and "expert" versions of FilmPack 3 so that you get a Stand Alone version and plug in versions for PhotoShop, Aperture, Lightroom, and DxO Optics Pro all together. This offers a huge range of functionality compared to so many software packages that are usable in only one application. - "Essential" or "Expert"
DxO makes FilmPack 3 accessible to even more photographer by offering a scaled down "essentials" version. The essentials version has fewer films and options (vignetting, noise reduction, batch processing, and a few other options are removed) but still offers a lot of creative choice for hobbyist photographers that might otherwise have to pass on the pricier "expert" edition. - Film Accuracy
While I am admittedly not a long-time user of many of the films included in FilmPack 3, the films I have used appear to be spot-on recreations within FilmPack 3. For example, the TMax beautifully captures the clear grey tones that no other film comes close to rendering. The HIE settings easily recreate the harshness of that film that photographers either love or hate with a passion. And the Portra settings...well, what can you say about Portra for those who haven't shot with it other than "do it"? - Adjustment Capability
Most of the adjustment capabilities are within the "expert" edition but they are strong adjustment features. Lighting, contrast, vignetting, grain, and much more an be tweaked to recreate films as you remember them (after all, many of use had shooting habits and processes in the darkroom that fundamentally changed the outcome of our photos on specific films).
What I Don't Like About It
- Workflow
Workflow in DxO FilmPack 3 isn't bad as such, it is just not intuitive if you are used to working in another application more often. Be sure to allow yourself time to get the hang of the workflow rather than trying to rush through it in order to avoid frustration.
Filmpack 3.1 Update
The newly released 3.1 update to DxO FilmPack adds a lot of punch. From new presets to viewing modes to extra controls, the 3.1 version is a huge leap.
- 25 New Creative Presets (Expert Version)
Includes items such as sepia variations, partial desaturation, and an assortment of vintage effects - Full screen mode
More space to view your editing process - Preset preview panel can now be resized
Again, more room to view your work makes for a much smoother editing process - Preset imports (Expert Version)
You can now exchange presets with friends and colleagues for tighter collaboration - DxO plans to provide special occasion preset packs
- Interface changes
Rollover effects for presets, improved sliders in channel mixer area, you can name your custom presets, ctrl Z and ctrl Y functionality added, and more
Included Films/Filters/Toning
Films Available in both the "Essentials Edition" and the "Expert Edition"
Fuji® Astia® 100 F
Fuji Provia® 100 F
Fuji Provia 400 X
Fuji Velvia® 50
Kodak® Kodachrome® 25
Kodak Kodachrome 64
Kodak Kodachrome 200
Kodak Ektachrome® 100 GX
Kodak Ektachrome 100 VS
Polaroïd® Polachrome®
Generic Fuji Astia® 100
Generic Fuji Provia 100
Generic Fuji Velvia 100
Generic Kodak Ektachrome 100 VS
Generic Kodak Ektachrome 64
Agfa Ultra® 100
Agfa Vista® 200
Fuji Superia® 200
Fuji Superia X-tra® 800
Kodak Portra® 160 NC
Agfa APX® 25
Fuji Neopan Acros® 100
Ilford® Delta® 400
Ilford Delta 3200
Ilford HP5 Plus® 400
Ilford Pan F Plus® 50
Kodak BW 400® CN
Kodak HIE (High Speed Infrared)™
Kodak T-max® 100
Kodak T-max 400
Kodak T-max 3200
Kodak Tri-X® 400
Polaroïd 664
Cross processed - Kodak Elite 100
Cross processed - Fuji Superia 200
Additional Films Only Available in the "Expert Edition"
Fuji FP 100 C
Fuji Provia 400 F
Kodak EktaColor® 100
Kodak Elite Chrome® 200
Kodak Elite Chrome 400
Polaroïd 669
Polaroïd 690
Agfa® Precisa® 100
Fuji Sensia® 100
Lomography® X-Pro Slide® 200
Fuji Superia Reala® 100
Fuji Superia HG® 1600
Kodak Elite Color® 200
Kodak Elite Color 400
Kodak Portra 160 VC
Lomography Redscale® 100
Fuji Neopan 1600
Ilford FP4 Plus® 125
Ilford HPS® 800
Ilford XP2® 400
Kodak HIE filtered (High Speed Infrared)™
Polaroïd 667
Polaroïd 672
Rollei® IR
Agfa APX 100
Ilford Delta 100
Rollei® Ortho® 25
Rollei Retro® 100 Tonal
Rollei Retro 80s
Filters Available in both the "Essentials Edition" and the "Expert Edition"
Cool tones
Blue
Green
Yellow
Orange
Deep orange
Red
Warm tones
Additional Filters Only Available in the "Expert Edition"
Mauve
Cyan
Bright cyan
Purplish blue
Purple
Bright orange
Light orange
Brown
Pink
Magenta
Toning Available in both the "Essentials Edition" and the "Expert Edition"
Gold
Selenium
Ferrous sulfate
Sepia
Gold sepia
Earth sepia
Fuji® Astia® 100 F
Fuji Provia® 100 F
Fuji Provia 400 X
Fuji Velvia® 50
Kodak® Kodachrome® 25
Kodak Kodachrome 64
Kodak Kodachrome 200
Kodak Ektachrome® 100 GX
Kodak Ektachrome 100 VS
Polaroïd® Polachrome®
Generic Fuji Astia® 100
Generic Fuji Provia 100
Generic Fuji Velvia 100
Generic Kodak Ektachrome 100 VS
Generic Kodak Ektachrome 64
Agfa Ultra® 100
Agfa Vista® 200
Fuji Superia® 200
Fuji Superia X-tra® 800
Kodak Portra® 160 NC
Agfa APX® 25
Fuji Neopan Acros® 100
Ilford® Delta® 400
Ilford Delta 3200
Ilford HP5 Plus® 400
Ilford Pan F Plus® 50
Kodak BW 400® CN
Kodak HIE (High Speed Infrared)™
Kodak T-max® 100
Kodak T-max 400
Kodak T-max 3200
Kodak Tri-X® 400
Polaroïd 664
Cross processed - Kodak Elite 100
Cross processed - Fuji Superia 200
Additional Films Only Available in the "Expert Edition"
Fuji FP 100 C
Fuji Provia 400 F
Kodak EktaColor® 100
Kodak Elite Chrome® 200
Kodak Elite Chrome 400
Polaroïd 669
Polaroïd 690
Agfa® Precisa® 100
Fuji Sensia® 100
Lomography® X-Pro Slide® 200
Fuji Superia Reala® 100
Fuji Superia HG® 1600
Kodak Elite Color® 200
Kodak Elite Color 400
Kodak Portra 160 VC
Lomography Redscale® 100
Fuji Neopan 1600
Ilford FP4 Plus® 125
Ilford HPS® 800
Ilford XP2® 400
Kodak HIE filtered (High Speed Infrared)™
Polaroïd 667
Polaroïd 672
Rollei® IR
Agfa APX 100
Ilford Delta 100
Rollei® Ortho® 25
Rollei Retro® 100 Tonal
Rollei Retro 80s
Filters Available in both the "Essentials Edition" and the "Expert Edition"
Cool tones
Blue
Green
Yellow
Orange
Deep orange
Red
Warm tones
Additional Filters Only Available in the "Expert Edition"
Mauve
Cyan
Bright cyan
Purplish blue
Purple
Bright orange
Light orange
Brown
Pink
Magenta
Toning Available in both the "Essentials Edition" and the "Expert Edition"
Gold
Selenium
Ferrous sulfate
Sepia
Gold sepia
Earth sepia
Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
