Difficulty
Intermediate
X-Trans IVEterna Bleach BypassColour4 photos
Bleached Gold Recipe
Bleached Gold drenches the frame in molten amber, pairing bleach-bypass grit with bold, saturated colour.
Film simulation
Eterna Bleach Bypass
Tested on
X-E4
Sample frames
4
The lookWhy this one earns a slot
Bleached Gold takes the silvery, desaturated grit of Eterna Bleach Bypass and floods it with heat. A daylight white balance shifted hard towards red and yellow bathes every scene in a deep amber-gold, reminiscent of a cinema print that has aged towards orange. Colour is pushed up to fight the bypass's natural restraint, so skies and water keep their tint while warm tones burn. Highlights are held back, protecting bright skies, while shadows are nudged darker for weight and drama. Softened micro-contrast stops the look turning harsh, and fine, strong grain adds a gritty, textured surface. It really comes alive at golden hour on the coast and around water, where reflections and low sun turn molten, and in urban scenes that suit a bold, cinematic mood rather than a gentle one.
The settingsThe recipe
Eterna Bleach Bypass · X-Trans IV
Unlock the full recipe
The white balance, tone curve, grain and ISO for Bleached Gold are part of Fuji Pic Premium. Get them in the app, then load the recipe straight onto your camera.
Free to download · iPhone and AndroidHow to copy it to your camera
- Open the Image Quality (IQ) menu and select an empty custom setting slot (C1–C7).
- Set the base film simulation to Eterna Bleach Bypass.
- Enter each value from the recipe's card in the Fuji Pic app, then save the slot.
- Select that slot to shoot Bleached Gold JPEGs straight out of camera.
Sample framesShot on this recipe
Notes & caveatsWhat it nails, what to watch
What it nails
- Deep amber-gold cast feels bold and unmistakably cinematic.
- Held-back highlights keep golden-hour skies from blowing out.
- Fine grain adds grit without swamping detail.
What to watch
- Intense warm tint overwhelms skin tones in soft portraits.
- Needs a body with Eterna Bleach Bypass, which excludes X-Pro3 and X100V.
- Extreme white balance shift can look heavy in already-warm light.
Explore similar
GrittyCinematicUrban
CompatibilityWill it work on your camera?
Tested across the X-Trans IV and GFX generations — compatibility is defined by sensor, so any body on these generations can run it.
Best forWhen to reach for it
Use Bleached Gold for golden-hour coastlines, waterfronts and gritty urban scenes where a heavy, cinematic amber cast is the point. It is a poor choice for soft portraits: the intense warm tint and bleach-bypass grit are unforgiving on skin and fight any delicate, natural look.
Best for
Scenes and subjects this recipe is tuned for.
GrittyCinematicUrban
Less suited to
Where another look will likely serve you better.
Soft portraits
Frequently asked questions
Which cameras can use Bleached Gold?
It needs Eterna Bleach Bypass, so it works on the X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II and GFX100S. The X-Pro3 and X100V lack that film simulation.
What does Bleached Gold look like?
A gritty bleach-bypass base with a strong amber-gold cast, boosted colour, protected highlights and fine grain, giving a warm, dramatic, cinematic feel.
Is Bleached Gold suitable for portraits?
Not for soft or flattering portraits. The heavy warm tint and grit are harsh on skin, so it suits moody street and landscape scenes better.
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