New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
p.3 #1New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
I'd love to see some more example with people and how it handles different skin tones and lighting situations.
Mar 03, 2026 at 03:29 PM
p.3 #2New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
Geoff D F wrote:
These profiles look quite nice, but I don't think they look that much like Kodachrome - at least not based on a book of William Eggleston's work that I own. The saturation and contrast look too high and digital just lacks a certain softness that film has.
I think the special Eggleston look is also influenced by the special print process he uses. Check out "The Last Dyes" exhibition/book.
These profiles look quite nice, but I don't think they look that much like Kodachrome - at least not based on a book of William Eggleston's work that I own. The saturation and contrast look too high and digital just lacks a certain softness that film has.
I think the special Eggleston look is also influenced by the special print process he uses. Check out "The Last Dyes" exhibition/book.
Mar 03, 2026 at 06:50 PM
p.3 #3New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
Here are a few more examples, compared to Cobalt's standard profile, which, to my eye, gives more natural-looking colours than the Adobe standard treatment.
The Kodachrome profiles can definitely be used for some images, but they don't fit every image. Especially with skin tones, they need a lot of tweaking before they give a good result. Below is one example, developed in Lightroom with the same settings for Cobalt and Kodachrome, and then one example, tweaked to my satisfaction. Please excuse the squint, this was the first sunny day for a long time.
Image 4: if you want your reds to be really saturated, the Kodachrome profiles are your friend.
Fujifilm X-H2S, Viltrox 27/1.2
Fujifilm X-H2S, Viltrox 27/1.2
Fujifilm X-H2S,Fuji 56/1.2; Kodachrome 1987 Balanced
Fujifilm X-H2S, Viltrox 27/1.2; Kodachrome 25 Balanced
The Kodachrome profiles can definitely be used for some images, but they don't fit every image. Especially with skin tones, they need a lot of tweaking before they give a good result. Below is one example, developed in Lightroom with the same settings for Cobalt and Kodachrome, and then one example, tweaked to my satisfaction. Please excuse the squint, this was the first sunny day for a long time.
Image 4: if you want your reds to be really saturated, the Kodachrome profiles are your friend.
Fujifilm X-H2S, Viltrox 27/1.2
Fujifilm X-H2S, Viltrox 27/1.2
Fujifilm X-H2S,Fuji 56/1.2; Kodachrome 1987 Balanced
Fujifilm X-H2S, Viltrox 27/1.2; Kodachrome 25 Balanced
Mar 04, 2026 at 07:04 AM
p.3 #4New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
SrMi wrote:
I think the special Eggleston look is also influenced by the special print process he uses. Check out "The Last Dyes" exhibition/book.
Also, he shot color negative film most of the time.
Geoff D F wrote
These profiles look quite nice, but I don't think they look that much like Kodachrome - at least not based on a book of William Eggleston's work that I own. The saturation and contrast look too high and digital just lacks a certain softness that film has.Also, he shot color negative film most of the time.
Mar 04, 2026 at 08:18 AM
p.3 #5New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
RustyRus wrote:
From what I understand, the development process of it was also quite unique. You had to add in color with pollinator kits so there is probably a ton of room for manipulation and style for the people that could do it right-
It’s probably why the looks always vary so much in old pictures-
Kodachrome could be processed at home but only as B&W. I shot a ton of Kodachrome in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Kodachrome 25 professional was my favorite transparency film. Back in the day Kodachrome and dye transfer were the only color processes considered archival. K-14 was the process in later years that Kodak and or Kodak licensed labs used. The dyes were added during the processing (special machines). That made the dyes more stable and less likely to deteriorate over time. Other color negative and transparency films had/have the dyes in the film.
Fred Miranda wrote
I understand that some feel it doesn't "look like Kodachrome 64" and that is fair. Most of us have never shot or developed it ourselves, and online examples vary widely between photographers. From what I can tell, these profiles are the closest digital representation I've seen and I genuinely love what they do to my images. They are based on real Kodachrome transparencies processed via K-14 and carefully profiled for digital use. While they won't replicate the physical film look, the colors and tonal palette feel authentic to me across my cameras.It’s probably why the looks always vary so much in old pictures-
Kodachrome could be processed at home but only as B&W. I shot a ton of Kodachrome in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Kodachrome 25 professional was my favorite transparency film. Back in the day Kodachrome and dye transfer were the only color processes considered archival. K-14 was the process in later years that Kodak and or Kodak licensed labs used. The dyes were added during the processing (special machines). That made the dyes more stable and less likely to deteriorate over time. Other color negative and transparency films had/have the dyes in the film.
Mar 04, 2026 at 08:37 AM
p.3 #6New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
Kodachrome was discontinued not just because digital photography took over in the early 2000s, but because the film and its processing simply became unsustainable as an ongoing product. Kodachrome's color process (K-14) was uniquely complex: unlike most color films that have the dye couplers built into the film, Kodachrome had no dyes in the emulsion at all. The colors were actually formed in the lab during processing in more than a dozen highly controlled chemical steps. This required specialized machines, trained technicians and chemicals that few labs could handle, and over time that infrastructure disappeared as demand for the film declined.
By the early 2000s, sales had dropped dramatically due to competition from other films and the rise of digital, and most labs closed. When Kodak stopped producing the necessary K-14 chemistry in 2009, the last remaining Kodachrome processor (Dwayne's Photo in Kansas) ceased color processing by the end of 2010 because the chemicals were gone, ending the ability to develop Kodachrome slides in color at all.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodachrome
By the early 2000s, sales had dropped dramatically due to competition from other films and the rise of digital, and most labs closed. When Kodak stopped producing the necessary K-14 chemistry in 2009, the last remaining Kodachrome processor (Dwayne's Photo in Kansas) ceased color processing by the end of 2010 because the chemicals were gone, ending the ability to develop Kodachrome slides in color at all.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodachrome
Mar 04, 2026 at 10:18 AM
p.3 #7New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
Fred Miranda wrote:
Kodachrome was discontinued not just because digital photography took over in the early 2000s, but because the film and its processing simply became unsustainable as an ongoing product. Kodachrome's color process (K-14) was uniquely complex: unlike most color films that have the dye couplers built into the film, Kodachrome had no dyes in the emulsion at all. The colors were actually formed in the lab during processing in more than a dozen highly controlled chemical steps. This required specialized machines, trained technicians and chemicals that few labs could handle, and over time that infrastructure disappeared as demand for the...Show more →
That’s an interesting bit of history that I had forgotten about. (I shot Kodachrome for many years in the pre-digital era and loved it. Kodachrome 25 was usually my go-to choice. And now I’m thinking of how much scanning i really need to get to work on…)
Kodachrome was discontinued not just because digital photography took over in the early 2000s, but because the film and its processing simply became unsustainable as an ongoing product. Kodachrome's color process (K-14) was uniquely complex: unlike most color films that have the dye couplers built into the film, Kodachrome had no dyes in the emulsion at all. The colors were actually formed in the lab during processing in more than a dozen highly controlled chemical steps. This required specialized machines, trained technicians and chemicals that few labs could handle, and over time that infrastructure disappeared as demand for the...Show more →
That’s an interesting bit of history that I had forgotten about. (I shot Kodachrome for many years in the pre-digital era and loved it. Kodachrome 25 was usually my go-to choice. And now I’m thinking of how much scanning i really need to get to work on…)
Mar 04, 2026 at 10:47 AM
p.3 #8New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
I shot some Kodachrome 64 120 pro also.
Kodachrome 64 120 500 C/M
Kodachrome 25 professional Canon F-1
Kodachrome 64 120 500 C/M
Kodachrome 25 professional Canon F-1
Mar 04, 2026 at 11:52 AM
RoamingScott
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p.3 #9New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
I appreciate the posts of "real" Kodachrome as it's a look I've been developing on Nikon cameras, and this proves I have a really nice base so far 
Mar 04, 2026 at 12:01 PM
p.3 #10New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
For those who haven't already seen it, Kodachrome, the 2017 movie, is worth a watch. Still available on Netflix UK.
Mar 04, 2026 at 12:21 PM
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p.3 #11New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
Had cabinets stuffed full of Kodachrome in hanging files. 64 was my film of choice, never really got along with the others. At the time Kodachrome was simply de rigueur.
Mar 04, 2026 at 12:48 PM
p.3 #12New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
Fred Miranda wrote:
Kodachrome was discontinued not just because digital photography took over in the early 2000s, but because the film and its processing simply became unsustainable as an ongoing product. Kodachrome's color process (K-14) was uniquely complex: unlike most color films that have the dye couplers built into the film, Kodachrome had no dyes in the emulsion at all. The colors were actually formed in the lab during processing in more than a dozen highly controlled chemical steps. This required specialized machines, trained technicians and chemicals that few labs could handle, and over time that infrastructure disappeared as demand for the...Show more →
During the early 1980's I was shooting a lot commercially and Kodachrome albeit had a facility in the same region, processing was not same day. So for that reason alone I switched to Fujifilm RDP in 35mm, 120, and large format which could be processed at a lab close to my studio in 2 hours. Sadly, Koadchrome's passing was not on my horizon as the medium was just not of use to my workflow. Miss it now but have lots of hanging sheets of it in my filing cabinet.
Kodachrome was discontinued not just because digital photography took over in the early 2000s, but because the film and its processing simply became unsustainable as an ongoing product. Kodachrome's color process (K-14) was uniquely complex: unlike most color films that have the dye couplers built into the film, Kodachrome had no dyes in the emulsion at all. The colors were actually formed in the lab during processing in more than a dozen highly controlled chemical steps. This required specialized machines, trained technicians and chemicals that few labs could handle, and over time that infrastructure disappeared as demand for the...Show more →
During the early 1980's I was shooting a lot commercially and Kodachrome albeit had a facility in the same region, processing was not same day. So for that reason alone I switched to Fujifilm RDP in 35mm, 120, and large format which could be processed at a lab close to my studio in 2 hours. Sadly, Koadchrome's passing was not on my horizon as the medium was just not of use to my workflow. Miss it now but have lots of hanging sheets of it in my filing cabinet.
Mar 04, 2026 at 02:37 PM
p.3 #13New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
airfrogusmc wrote:
I shot some Kodachrome 64 120 pro also.
Kodachrome 64 120 500 C/M
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170609671.jpg
Kodachrome 25 professional Canon F-1
Perfect examples of "late" Kodachrome... Check how the reds, especially, are balanced and "harmonize" with the rest of the palatte against the previous poolside bathing suit shots. 120 really showed its beauty but they only made it for a few years.
WRT to Eggleston, I just saw an exhibit (still running) of his "Last Dyes". I'm not sure which of those images were C-41, E-6 or K-14, but the dye transfer process was aaamaaazing and probably should get the credit. It would be easy to assume that all these beautifully processed images were shot on the "best" color art film of the time, but they likely weren't all Kodachrome. https://www.davidzwirner.com/exhibitions/2026/william-eggleston-the-last-dyes
Here's a good rant on what he used and roughly, when: https://www.sebastiansiadecki.com/blog/2020/7/27/egglestonmyth
Few shot color negative (C-41) until the '70s because it really sucked.
I shot some Kodachrome 64 120 pro also.
Kodachrome 64 120 500 C/M
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170609671.jpg
Kodachrome 25 professional Canon F-1
Perfect examples of "late" Kodachrome... Check how the reds, especially, are balanced and "harmonize" with the rest of the palatte against the previous poolside bathing suit shots. 120 really showed its beauty but they only made it for a few years.
WRT to Eggleston, I just saw an exhibit (still running) of his "Last Dyes". I'm not sure which of those images were C-41, E-6 or K-14, but the dye transfer process was aaamaaazing and probably should get the credit. It would be easy to assume that all these beautifully processed images were shot on the "best" color art film of the time, but they likely weren't all Kodachrome. https://www.davidzwirner.com/exhibitions/2026/william-eggleston-the-last-dyes
Here's a good rant on what he used and roughly, when: https://www.sebastiansiadecki.com/blog/2020/7/27/egglestonmyth
Few shot color negative (C-41) until the '70s because it really sucked.
Mar 04, 2026 at 04:37 PM
p.3 #14New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
airfrogusmc wrote:
I shot some Kodachrome 64 120 pro also.
Kodachrome 64 120 500 C/M
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170609671.jpg
Kodachrome 25 professional Canon F-1
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/167200576.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170020347.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170020356.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170609669.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/169889803.jpg
Best examples I've seen here of how Kodachrome should look.
I shot some Kodachrome 64 120 pro also.
Kodachrome 64 120 500 C/M
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170609671.jpg
Kodachrome 25 professional Canon F-1
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/167200576.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170020347.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170020356.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170609669.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/169889803.jpg
Best examples I've seen here of how Kodachrome should look.
Mar 05, 2026 at 02:24 AM
p.3 #15New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
KLaban wrote:
Kodachrome 64 120 500 C/M
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170609671.jpg
Kodachrome 25 professional Canon F-1
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/167200576.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170020347.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170020356.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170609669.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/169889803.jpgBest examples I've seen here of how Kodachrome should look.
Yes nothing quite like Kodachrome. It was my favorite color transparency film period. I always went about 1/3 stop under. But I gotta say some of these presets I've seen look pretty good.
airfrogusmc wrote
I shot some Kodachrome 64 120 pro also.Kodachrome 64 120 500 C/M
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170609671.jpg
Kodachrome 25 professional Canon F-1
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/167200576.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170020347.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170020356.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170609669.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/169889803.jpg
Yes nothing quite like Kodachrome. It was my favorite color transparency film period. I always went about 1/3 stop under. But I gotta say some of these presets I've seen look pretty good.
Mar 05, 2026 at 11:16 AM
RoamingScott
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p.3 #16New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
KLaban wrote:
Kodachrome 64 120 500 C/M
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170609671.jpg
Kodachrome 25 professional Canon F-1
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/167200576.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170020347.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170020356.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170609669.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/169889803.jpgBest examples I've seen here of how Kodachrome should look.
What's funny is I agree, although you can clearly see here that the whites aren't creamy at all, as was suggested as being "real" Kodachrome earlier in the thread, as well as how the Cobalt sims look. These whites are stark white, just like other classic Kodachrome examples from the mid 50s through the 90s.
airfrogusmc wrote
I shot some Kodachrome 64 120 pro also.Kodachrome 64 120 500 C/M
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170609671.jpg
Kodachrome 25 professional Canon F-1
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/167200576.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170020347.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170020356.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/170609669.jpg
https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/169889803.jpg
What's funny is I agree, although you can clearly see here that the whites aren't creamy at all, as was suggested as being "real" Kodachrome earlier in the thread, as well as how the Cobalt sims look. These whites are stark white, just like other classic Kodachrome examples from the mid 50s through the 90s.
Mar 05, 2026 at 11:26 AM
p.3 #17New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
When I was in college I did color tests of a fair amount of transparency films and Kodachrome 25 professional had the most accurate color renditions of all the films I tested. I always say if the whites are white then the rest of the colors usually fall into place.
Edited on Mar 05, 2026 at 04:56 PM · View previous versions
Edited on Mar 05, 2026 at 04:56 PM · View previous versions
Mar 05, 2026 at 01:31 PM
p.3 #18New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
I don’t recall Kodachrome being as saturated as the examples earlier in this thread.
Mar 05, 2026 at 02:35 PM
p.3 #19New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
gdanmitchell wrote:
I don’t recall Kodachrome being as saturated as the examples earlier in this thread.
I suppose Cobalt should have checked with you first to make sure their Kodachrome profiles matched your recollection.
I don’t recall Kodachrome being as saturated as the examples earlier in this thread.
I suppose Cobalt should have checked with you first to make sure their Kodachrome profiles matched your recollection.
Mar 05, 2026 at 03:37 PM
p.3 #20New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
Some very famous historical Kodachrome shots...just a few off the top of my head.
McCurry:
Haas:
Turner:
Leiter:
Yeah, not saturated at all.
McCurry:
Haas:
Turner:
Leiter:
Yeah, not saturated at all.
Mar 05, 2026 at 03:48 PM