Cinémathèque | Adaptive Analog Presets

Between the flicker of celluloid and the quiet hum of digital sensors lies a liminal space where memory and light converge. Cinémathèque Presets capture this ephemeral intersection-where the whispered grain of analog film meets the precision of modern digital photography. This collection transforms ordinary captures into evocative visual narratives, bathed in the melancholy of fading celluloid and imbued with cinematic depth.

The Language of Emulsion

Cinémathèque is not merely a collection of presets but a visual vocabulary drawn from the rich heritage of analog film stocks. Each preset acts as a tonal foundation that honors both the technical characteristics and emotional resonance of its namesake emulsion-creating a dialogue between your digital capture and the distinctive aesthetic signatures of iconic film stocks. These presets are designed not as one-click solutions but as artistic collaborators that invite your interpretation. They offer mood, tone, and direction-a starting point from which to craft images that resonate with the quiet intimacy and textural richness that characterizes the Paellicio aesthetic.

Collection Architecture

The Cinémathèque collection unfolds as a comprehensive suite of analog emulation tools, each precision-engineered to preserve the unique emotional character of its reference medium:

Film Emulation Suite

• 18 Colour Film Profiles - From the warm intimacy of Portra to the nocturnal glow of CineStill
• 10 Monochrome Interpretations - Spanning the contrast spectrum from delicate Acros to dramatic Tri-X
• 2 Instant Film Renderings - Capturing the imperfect poetry of chemical development

Technical Toolkits

• Film Texture Toolkit - Grain structures, development artifacts, and analog imperfections
• Color Response Toolkit - Precision tools for halation, cross-processing, and tone manipulation

Format Versatility

All color and monochrome presets are delivered in three compatible formats:

• XMP (including adaptive variations) - For Lightroom Classic and Adobe Camera Raw
• DNG - Universal mobile-compatible format for Lightroom Mobile
• Lrtemplate - For compatibility with older Lightroom versions

The technical toolkits are provided exclusively as XMP presets, designed for nuanced adjustments within Lightroom Classic’s develop module.

Chromatic Narratives: The Color Collection

Each color preset within Cinémathèque has been crafted through rigorous testing across varied lighting scenarios and ISO ranges, ensuring the distinctive character of each emulsion translates faithfully to your digital images. The collection includes:

Professional Portrait Emulsions

• Kodak Portra 400 & 160 - Luminous skin tones with restrained warmth and sculptural highlights
• Fujifilm Pro 400H - Delicate pastel highlights with signature cyan-shifted shadows

Cinematic Color Science

• CineStill 800T - Tungsten-balanced with characteristic red halation and moody blue shadows
• Kodak Vision3 250D - Motion picture color science adapted for still portraiture

Consumer & Alternative Emulsions

• Kodak Gold & Ultramax - Nostalgic warmth with subtle contrast and amber highlights
• Lomography Metropolis & Color 92 - Experimental color shifts and textural density
• Revolog 460nm & Dubblefilm Apollo - Artistic interpretations with controlled aberrations

Each preset has been engineered with a parametric tone curve that preserves shadow detail while offering a characteristic highlight rolloff, creating that elusive analog feel without sacrificing digital control.

Monochromatic Poetry: Black & White Collection

The monochrome presets in Cinémathèque translate the subtle tonal relationships of classic black and white films into the digital realm. From the iconic photojournalistic grit of Tri-X to the ethereal smoothness of Acros, each preset offers a distinctive approach to translating color information into luminance values.

Notable interpretations include:

• Ilford Delta 3200 - Dramatic contrast with embraced grain structure
• Harman Red - Heightened sensitivity to red tones for compelling portrait separation
• Ferrania P30 - Cinema-derived contrast with minimal mid-tones for dramatic effect

Instant Gratification: Polaroid & Instax Emulation

The collection is completed with two instant film presets that capture the distinctive chemical processes and imperfect charm of self-developing film. These presets embrace the border effects, color shifts, and development artifacts that make instant photography an intimate, tangible experience.

Creative Application Philosophy

These presets are not designed to homogenize your work but to invite you into a visual conversation. They thrive in environments where natural light interacts with textured surfaces-sunlit dust motes, crumpled linen, skin illuminated through sheer curtains. For optimal results:

• Adjust white balance to harmonize with your scene’s natural light conditions
• Fine-tune exposure (-0.3 to -0.7 EV for RAW files often produces optimal results)
• Embrace grain as an emotional texture rather than technical imperfection

The Adaptive versions (XMP only) intelligently respond to your image’s exposure and color temperature, providing a more nuanced starting point for your creative decisions.

The Alchemy of Light

Cinémathèque rejects algorithmic uniformity in favor of slow, intentional editing. These presets translate visual qualities into tactile, auditory, and emotional sensations-turning light into mood, exposure into memory. They offer not merely a look, but a feeling-a threshold between digital precision and analog poetry where your unique vision can unfold. Transform your portraits into cinematic moments suspended between memory and imagination, where light becomes narrative and every frame whispers of stories untold.

Technical Requirements

• Compatible with Lightroom Classic, Lightroom CC Desktop, Adobe Camera Raw, and Lightroom Mobile (via DNG)
• Optimal results with properly exposed images; RAW files will require minor post-application adjustments
• Full compatibility with Lightroom Classic 7.3 and newer versions

Cinémathèque Presets: Where digital capture meets the poetic imperfection of analog memory.