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In my opinion, building a film recipe in VSCO Studio Pro to emulate the look of Kodak Portra 400 is all about balancing warm, natural tones with soft contrast. Portra 400 is celebrated for its ability to render skin tones beautifully, with a slightly warm bias and a smooth highlight roll-off that keeps images feeling natural and timeless. In VSCO, this means starting with a base preset that leans toward film-like color rendition and then carefully refining. The key adjustments typically involve pulling down harsh contrast, adding a touch of warmth in the white balance, and slightly desaturating reds while enhancing yellows and greens to achieve that signature Portra palette. Shadows should remain open and soft, never too crushed, while highlights can be slightly pulled back to mimic Portra’s forgiving latitude.
Grain is also an essential part of the Portra 400 aesthetic. In VSCO Studio Pro, applying medium grain helps replicate the subtle texture of film without overpowering fine detail. Sharpening should be kept low to maintain a more organic, filmic softness. For color grading, a gentle lift in the shadows toward warm tones, combined with cool highlights, can help simulate the balanced yet slightly nostalgic feel of Portra. The end result is a versatile recipe that works across portraits, street photography, and landscapes—just like the real film stock—delivering a warm, true-to-life image with that classic Kodak depth.
If you're interested in learning all of the adjustments that I've made for this film recipe, drop me a note here or over on Instagram @gregschmigel.
And of course, thanks for stopping by and reading!
- Greg
