VSCO Film Presets for Aperture 3 Getting Some User Love
Two readers almost simultaneously posted User Tips on a preset pack called the VSCO Film Pack for Aperture 3. At $79 these presets aren’t cheap, but they include actual high resolution scans of real negative stock for their textures. I have asked the company what resolution the scans are, because as many of you know who’ve used my textured presets, there are hard limits to every preset. They were cagey about the response, telling me only that they scanned them at 8,000 × 8,000 but also made the point that if I was using Nikon D800, to let them know and they’ll send a special version of the preset pack. So their actual embedded textures aren’t that high, but it’s available if you need it.
The user tips are here:
Marcus Adams writes VSCO Film Presets for Aperture 3
Jim Denham writes VSCO Film Presets for Aperture 3 (video) — his includes a video tour of the app.
Enjoy, and if you have any experience with these yourself, let us know in the comments (here or on their posts).
Comments
on May 16, 2012 - 12:45am
Hate to be the nay-sayer (as usual) but…
I happen to be a member of the 1% of photographers that still actually shoots film in 35mm, 120, 4x5, and 8x10 when I can afford 8x10. I develop B+W myself and use a variety of labs including RPL which VSCO claims their simulations are based on.
In no way shape or form do the simulations look like “real” film. Yes they are an effect - you may like the effect you may not but at the end of the day they do not look anything like shooting film. What’s more important is that it’s not like shooting film at all (no kidding).
To get anywhere close to what film might look like (and by that I mean not even close but to use these “presets”) you must shoot/expose with the presets in mind and then do some post processing with the presets in mind. Don’t believe me because of all the praise you see from what I consider way over priced ACR presets - shoot a comparison yourself - it will only cost you $20 to get a roll process w/ scans at RPL…
If I have time I will try to post a comparison of Portra Vs VSCO to show you.
RB
on May 16, 2012 - 12:48am
Oh yea - I did actually buy these (the pro versions for ACR w/ specific camera profiles) as I have purchased every single other film simulation ever conceived. So I feel I have the right and obligation to comment. I am not monday morning quarterbacking here.
Bottom line - if you like the effect sure have at it - but you can prolly get there yourself in about 10mins using the relatively small amount of adjustment options available for these presets - unlike something like SilverEFX Pro that does a whole lot more that you cannot do in Aperture/LR/ACR…
RB
on August 12, 2012 - 7:14pm
Just a note that VSCO Film 2 is now out with a whole new set of presets and so on.
Downside is that it is for Lightroom only and VSCO can’t give me an ETA on the Aperture version.
Looks like Adobe have seriously overtaken on the user numbers front, although Apple being slow to add new cameras (no Fuji X Pro 1 yet, Apple!!) and so on probably does not help.