16 Sony JPEG recipes I made using Creative Looks
- Jul 28
- 7 min read
For the past five years, I’ve been creating film simulations for Sony cameras using the Picture Profile menu. Over time, a lot of people have asked me when I’d make some Creative Look recipes. And while I’m not the biggest fan of Creative Looks, mostly because of their limitations, I know that they’re more convenient than diving into Picture Profiles.
So… here we are. I’ve put together a free pack of Creative Look recipes that give your Sony JPEGs a film look, straight out of camera. They cover some of Fuji’s base looks and a few recreations of the best film simulations from my full pack, like Kodachrome or Kodak Portra.
This article includes the full list of looks, a download link, and a step-by-step guide to installing them on your camera.
Let’s dive in 👇
The Problem with Creative Looks (and a Better Alternative)
Sony’s Creative Look feature gives you 10 customizable in-camera color profiles for JPEGs and video. While the Creative Look settings aren't as advanced as the Picture Profile menu, they are a great option for if you're looking for convenience over control. Especially for A7 IV users, these Sony A7 IV film looks give you easy access to popular Fuji and Kodak-inspired styles without complicated editing.
However, I prefer using the Picture Profile menu when I create film simulations. Why? More control, fewer limitations, better color.
👉 If you want the full breakdown on my take on this, check out my detailed comparison: Sony Creative Look vs Picture Profiles for Film Recipes
With Creative Looks, you can only adjust so many parameters, while Picture Profiles go deeper - hence why I always return to this feature.
Also, if you scroll through the Fujifilm community today you’ll see hundreds of film simulation recipes. But here’s the truth: many of them look almost identical. A quick search will show you at least 20 different recipes for Kodak Portra 400, and yet, they all aim for the same aesthetic with only minor variations. Even sites like FujiXWeekly have three or four Kodak recipes that are almost identical.
Why is that?
Because Fujifilm’s film simulations are limited in flexibility. Aside from the base simulations, most tweaks come down to simple color filters. That’s it. There’s little room for deeper in-camera editing or meaningful color shifts.
👉 For a full breakdown of Sony's vs Fuji's menu, check out this article: Can you get Fuji colors on Sony?
The Picture Profile menu, on the other hand, offers more complex tools, which allows you to create truly unique looks.
When I built my film simulations, I focused on originality—each one had to feel different. That mindset led to 84 custom looks. I might add a few more, but only if they bring something truly new. And honestly, that’s getting harder. Why?
My library is already extensive.
Even with the flexibility of Sony’s Picture Profile system, there are still some technical boundaries. I created RAW presets to get even closer to film.
You can probably make 20–30 distinct Creative Look styles before they start blending together. After that, things repeat. That’s why I’ve never chased a massive Creative Look pack—I care about quality.
So yes, Creative Looks are convenient. But if you want depth and uniqueness, Picture Profiles are the better tool. And although I created an expansive collection of 84+ film simulations, I’m more interested in quality than quantity, and I don’t want to make endless versions of film simulations just because others have. I want to keep my collection clean and original.
Free Sony Creative Look Recipes Pack (16 Film-Inspired JPEG Looks)
This free pack includes 16 custom Creative Look recipes designed for Sony cameras that support the Creative Look system (like the A7 IV, FX30, ZV-E1, A6700, and others).
Know someone who’d like these? Share away!
You’ll find two types of looks in this pack.
Fujifilm Film Simulation Recipes for Sony cameras
Provia: Balanced and natural colors with moderate contrast—great all-around.
Velvia: Punchy, saturated colors ideal for landscapes and vibrant scenes.
Astia: Softer contrast and skin tones, perfect for portraits.
Classic Chrome: Muted, vintage-inspired look with subtle desaturation and contrast.
Pro Neg STD: Soft contrast and natural skin tones, perfect for portraits and everyday scenes with a clean, understated look.
Classic Neg: Muted tones and lifted blacks for a nostalgic, moody vibe—ideal for street photography and urban scenes.
Eterna: Low contrast, subdued colors, and gentle highlights—cinematic and calm, great for video or storytelling stills.
Nostalgic Neg: Warm tones, soft contrast, and a vintage glow—designed to evoke the feeling of old family photos and film memories.
👉 Take an in-depth look at these Fuji film simulations for Sony.
Custom Film-Inspired Creative Looks
I’ve also recreated some of the most iconic film looks from my full pack, now adapted to Creative Looks. These are the star of the show. You’ll find recipes inspired by Kodak Gold, Kodachrome 50s, Fujifilm Fortia 50, Kodak Vision3 200T, Phoenix Harman, Kodak Portra 400, Cinestill 800, and Cuba Negative.
Kodak Gold: Rich colors with a bit more punch—great for everyday shooting with a vintage twist.
Creative Look settings
Creative Look FL
Contrast -9
Highlights +6
Shadows -2
Fade 2
Saturation +5
Sharpness 0
Sharpness range 1
Clarity 0
AWB:White A4-G1
DRO: LVL 5
Kodachrome 50s
The classic vibrant, bold colors and fine grain look from the golden era of slide film.
Creative Look settings
Creative Look IN
Contrast -6
Highlights -6
Shadows -6
Fade 1
Saturation +9
Sharpness 0
Sharpness range 1
Clarity 0
AWB:White B0.5-G0.75
DRO: LVL 5
Fujifilm Fortia 50
Ultra-vivid colors and rich contrast, crafted for bold landscapes, vibrant scenes, and images that demand maximum visual impact.
Creative Look settings
Creative Look VV2
Contrast -3
Highlights +4
Shadows -9
Fade 2
Saturation +3
Sharpness 0
Sharpness range 1
Clarity 0
AWB:White B4-M0.25
DRO: OFF
Kodak Vision3 200T
Inspired by cinema film stock, this look features balanced contrast and subtle color shifts—ideal for moody, cinematic imagery with a timeless tone.
Creative Look settings
Creative Look PT
Contrast -9
Highlights -3
Shadows +4
Fade 1
Saturation +9
Sharpness 0
Sharpness range 1
Clarity 0
AWB:White A4-G1.5
DRO: +5
Phoenix Harman
A unique, filmic aesthetic with soft shadows and warm undertones—perfect for creating emotionally rich, analog-style photos with a hint of nostalgia.
Creative Look settings
Creative Look FL
Contrast +1
Highlights +9
Shadows -9
Fade 1
Saturation +6
Sharpness 0
Sharpness range 1
Clarity 0
AWB:White A3-G0.75
DRO: OFF
Kodak Portra 400
Soft contrast and warm, natural skin tones make this ideal for portraits and lifestyle photography.
Creative Look settings
Creative Look NT
Contrast +6
Highlights -9
Shadows -9
Fade 1
Saturation +5
Sharpness 0
Sharpness range 1
Clarity 0
AWB:White A2.5-G0.5
DRO: LVL 5
Cinestill 800T
Tungsten-balanced with a subtle glow, perfect for moody night scenes and cinematic feels.
Creative Look settings
Creative Look IN
Contrast +3
Highlights +4
Shadows -9
Fade 1
Saturation +7
Sharpness 0
Sharpness range 1
Clarity 0
AWB:White B5.5-G1.5
DRO: +5
Cuba Negative
Warm, dusty tones evoking a warm & nostalgic atmosphere
Creative Look settings
Creative Look FL
Contrast +3
Highlights -3
Shadows -7
Fade 2
Saturation +6
Sharpness 0
Sharpness range 1
Clarity 0
AWB A3
DRO: +5
👉 See more JPEGs of the Cuban Negative recipe!
How to Add Creative Look Recipes on Sony Cameras
Note: These steps apply to cameras like the Sony A7 IV, A6700, ZV-E1, FX30, etc. Older cameras will differ in menu.
Turn on your camera.
Press the MENU button.
Go to the Shooting Tab (camera icon 📷) or Exposure/Color Tab(The exact tab might vary depending on your model — for newer models like the A7 IV or FX30, it's usually Tab 1 or 2.)
Scroll to “Color/Tone” or “Creative Look”.
Select Creative Look.
Choose a preset slot you want to modify (e.g., ST, PT, VV2, FL, etc.).
Press the center button (or right on the joystick) to customize the selected Creative Look.
Now Manually Adjust These Settings:
You'll see a list of editable parameters. Modify them as follows, depending on the recipe you're applying:
Contrast
Highlights
Shadows
Fade
Saturation
Sharpness
Sharpness Range
Clarity
Color Tone (this is your basic color filter — no R/G/B/C/M/Y channels like Picture Profiles)
After dialing in all the settings, press “OK” or the center button to save.
Back out to the shooting screen — your selected Creative Look is now applied.
💡Make sure your image format is set to JPG or JPG + RAW. The Creative Look will only apply to the JPG file. Raw files might need color matching in post.
And you are good to go :]
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use these Creative Look recipes on any Sony camera?
You can try adapting the simulations based on Standard, Neutral, Portrait Creative looks into Creative Styles and get similar results. But only newer Sony models that support Creative Look customization—like the A7 IV, A6700, FX30, ZV-E1, and similar—can apply these recipes to the full potential. Older Sony models having Creative Styles have less customization options and less looks (not including FL, IN, SH, VV2).
Q: Do Creative Look settings affect RAW files?
A: No, Creative Looks only bake into JPG files. If you shoot RAW + JPG, the RAW file remains unaltered.
Q: How do Creative Looks differ from Picture Profiles?
A: Creative Looks are simpler and designed for quick, in-camera JPG processing with fewer controls—mostly contrast, saturation, detail. Picture Profiles offer much deeper color options, offering the ability to create more complex film simulations.
Q: Can I use Creative Looks for video?
A: Sure, Creative Looks can be applied for video on supported models, but Picture Profiles provide more flexibility and are generally preferred by videographers for color grading.
Q: Are these Sony JPEG film recipes good for professional work?
A: Creative Looks are great for fast, stylized JPEGs with minimal editing—perfect for fast sharing, social media, travel, or casual shoots. You can share them straight out of camera, but I personally never use them for paid projects. For professional work, I always recommend shooting RAW and editing the images to the best quality, after all, clients pay for it. If you want full control and the highest quality for video or photo grading, Picture Profiles are still the way to go.
Q: Can I tweak these recipes further?
A: Yes! Once you load a Creative Look, you can adjust contrast, saturation, sharpness, and the global color filter to fine-tune the look to your taste.
Q: Will you create more Creative Look recipes in the future?
A: Might add more recipes in the future, and when I do, you'll be updated if you are subscribed to the newsletter. But my main preference is picture profiles because it offers more complex tools, even compared to Fujifilm simulations, and that's an advantage in creating beautiful and accurate film simulations.
If you’ve got questions, feedback, or want to share your results, just reach out. And if you haven’t grabbed the free pack yet—go for it. It’s in the shop.
P.S - Don't forget to join the contest & enter the chance to win Sony RX100 VI or the full PDF pack!