In the Age of Film Simulations and LUTs, Why I Like DxO FilmPack 8

Film-inspired photography is everywhere right now.

Fujifilm has built an entire ecosystem around Film Simulations. Panasonic is pushing Real Time LUTs and the Lumix Lab app. OM System introduced customizable Creative Recipes designed to encourage more creative JPEG shooting directly in-camera.

And honestly, I completely understand the appeal.  There’s something incredibly fun about creating a finished look while you’re actively photographing.  Instead of treating editing as a separate process later, the camera itself becomes part of the creative experience.

But after spending some time using DxO FilmPack 8, I was reminded there’s also a major creative advantage to building those looks after the photograph is taken.

And surprisingly, I found myself enjoying that flexibility more than I expected.

The Appeal of In-Camera Creative Looks

One of the biggest trends in photography right now is the idea of creating a finished photograph directly in-camera.

Fujifilm photographers often build entire workflows around Film Simulations and custom recipes.

Panasonic’s new Lumix cameras now support Real Time LUTs that can be loaded through the Lumix Lab app. Panasonic even introduced an AI-based feature called Magic LUT that can generate custom looks inspired by uploaded images.

OM System has also leaned into the trend with customizable Creative Recipes designed to encourage more creative JPEG shooting experiences.

In many ways, cameras are becoming more personal and creatively expressive again.

And honestly, I think that’s a good thing.  Photography should be fun.

But There’s Also Creative Freedom in Waiting

At the same time, I’ve also been reminded why I still enjoy creating those looks after the shoot.

With DxO FilmPack 8, I found myself approaching images differently than I would with a fixed in-camera style.  Instead of committing to a look while photographing, I could revisit the RAW file later and experiment with completely different interpretations:

• subtle black and white conversions
• vintage film-inspired color
• soft cinematic tones
• higher contrast documentary looks
• muted travel aesthetics
• or classic grain-heavy monochrome images.

And because everything happens after the photograph is taken, there’s much more freedom to experiment without feeling locked into a decision made in the field.

DxO FilmPack 8 Feels More Like a Creative Toolkit Than a Filter Pack

What surprised me most about FilmPack 8 was how customizable the experience felt.

At first glance, it would be easy to assume FilmPack 8 is simply a collection of presets or nostalgic film emulations. But after spending time with it, the software feels much deeper than that.

FilmPack 8 includes more than 300 built-in presets, including a large collection of film-inspired renderings, but the real strength is how much photographers can customize and refine those looks. DxO also allows photographers to save favorites, which becomes especially helpful when working through such a large collection of creative options.

Beyond the presets themselves, FilmPack 8 allows photographers to customize:

• basic development settings (exposure, highlights, shadows, vibrancy, etc.)
• grain characteristics
• split toning
• texture
• black and white conversion

It also includes additional creative tools like:

• frames
• light leaks
• filter effects
• creative vignetting
• blur effects
• and luminosity masking tools for more selective adjustments.

That distinction matters. Instead of applying a single “look,” it feels more like building a personal interpretation of the photograph.

And unlike in-camera simulations, those creative decisions can continue evolving long after the image was captured.

Revisiting Older Images Became Surprisingly Fun

One thing I didn’t expect was how enjoyable it became revisiting older photographs. Images I had previously edited years ago suddenly took on completely different moods depending on the rendering approach I used.

A landscape could become:

• soft and atmospheric
• high contrast and dramatic
• muted and cinematic
• or timeless black and white.

That ability to reinterpret photographs later is something in-camera JPEG workflows naturally limit.  And honestly, that’s one of the biggest reasons I still enjoy post-processing creatively. 

Your photographic style evolves over time and sometimes your older images evolve with it.

This Isn’t Really an Either/Or Decision

After using FilmPack 8, I don’t think this is really about deciding whether in-camera creativity or post-processing is “better.”

They simply encourage different creative mindsets.

In-camera simulations and LUTs can make photography feel:

• more intentional
• more immediate
• and more connected to the moment of capture.

Post-processing tools like DxO FilmPack 8 offer:

• flexibility
• reinterpretation
• experimentation
• and creative freedom after the photograph is taken.

And modern workflows make it easy to enjoy both approaches at the same time. Shooting RAW + JPEG allows photographers to experiment with creative in-camera looks while still retaining the flexibility to reinterpret the RAW file later in software like FilmPack 8.

For many photographers, that combination may offer the best balance between the immediacy of in-camera creativity and the flexibility of post-processing.

In-Camera Styles vs. Creative Post-Processing Flexibility

DxO FilmPack 8 reminded me that photography doesn’t have to end when the shutter closes.

As cameras continue moving toward increasingly advanced in-camera looks and workflows, there’s still something creatively satisfying about having the freedom to shape an image later with fresh eyes.

And in some ways, that flexibility may actually become more valuable as cameras continue pushing harder toward finished JPEG workflows.

I still enjoy experimenting with in-camera creative tools. But after using FilmPack 8, I was reminded how much I also enjoy the process of creatively rediscovering a photograph after the shoot is over.

Want to Learn More About Creative Photography Workflows?

• Why Photographers Love Panasonic and Leica Multi-Aspect Ratio Cameras
• How to Photograph Lightning Using Live Composite on OM System Cameras
• Beginner’s Guide to Computational Photography with OM System Cameras