If you love the sharp, polished look of vintage print spreads, you can bring it to your own work with the Kodak Ektachrome E100 presets. They’re designed to give portraits a crisp, glossy feel straight out of a classic fashion magazine. To start, try the Kodak Ektachrome E100 Presets as your editing base and then fine-tune for your subject and style.
01.
Start With Smart Camera Settings
For the clean, high-contrast look Ektachrome is known for, shoot in RAW at ISO 100–400. Keep your aperture wide enough – around f/2.8 to f/4 – for flattering background blur while keeping facial features sharp. A modern camara like the Fuji X-T4 or a Nikon Z6 will give you excellent dynamic range, helping you pull out bright whites without clipping.
02.
Control the Color Mix
Ektachrome portraits shine with vibrant yet natural color. In Lightroom, head to the HSL panel. Pull the Blue Luminance slider down slightly for richer suits or backgrounds, and warm the Reds and Oranges just a touch to keep skin tones lively. Use the Tone Curve to add a gentle S-shape for a print-ready contrast that still feels soft.
| Adjustment | Suggested Range | Purpose |
| Blue Luminance | –5 to –10 | Adds depth to clothing and backdrop |
| Red Saturation | +5 | Keeps skin tones healthy |
| Orange Hue | +2 to +4 | Subtle warmth for faces |
| Clarity | +5 to +10 | Brings a slight magazine crispness |
03.
Work the Light
Great portraits always start with great light. For a clean, editorial look, aim for soft, directional light that shapes the face without creating unwanted shadows. A large window with sheer curtains or a softbox angled slightly to the side works beautifully, keeping the light gentle and natural.
The goal is smooth shadows that add dimension but don’t distract. Position your subject so the light falls evenly across their features, then check how the shadows sit on the cheeks and jawline. If things look too harsh, shift the light source or rotate your subject until you find a flattering balance.
Reflectors are your secret weapon here. A simple white board or a collapsible reflector can bounce just enough light back into the shadows, softening lines and creating a polished look. Even a small amount of fill can turn a good portrait into one that feels refined and professional.
04.
Fine Details Matter
Clean edges separate an editorial shot from a snapshot. Check sharpening and noise reduction settings in Lightroom. Apply light sharpening (around 40–60) and modest noise reduction to maintain texture without making skin look plastic.
05.
How can I edit Portraits to look like classic Magazine Covers?
Start by shooting RAW at the lowest ISO you can manage. This gives you clean files with maximum detail to work with in Lightroom. Apply a Kodak Ektachrome E100 preset as your base to bring in that iconic glossy film vibe, then fine-tune the Reds and Oranges in the HSL panel to make skin tones feel warm and inviting.
From there, add a gentle S-shaped Tone Curve to introduce subtle contrast without crushing shadows. Pair that with soft, even lighting during the shoot- think a large softbox or diffused window light- and your portraits will carry that polished, magazine-cover quality that looks print-ready straight from Lightroom.
06.
Extra Touches for Style
Fuji Velvia or Provia film simulations can help you preview colors in-camera, giving you an idea of how the final edit might look. If you’re outdoors, use a tripod and a polarizing filter to reduce glare and boost saturation before you even start editing.
Adobe recommends shooting in RAW format for photographers, especially for portraits, because it provides greater control over image editing and professional retouching without losing quality. While the Adobe 2024 Creative Trends report specifically was not found in the search results, Adobe states that RAW is the standard for professional photo editing. (Source)
“Classic portraits are about restraint,” says fashion photographer Dana Cole. “It’s the small choices – the slight warm-up in the skin, the clean light – that make a shot look printed and ready.”
With these steps and a careful touch, your portraits can carry that unmistakable Kodak Ektachrome E100 style from camera to final export. Whether it’s a soft studio headshot or a street-style fashion session, you’ll see how easily your images can feel magazine-ready once the Kodak Ektachrome E100 presets set the stage.
