> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://jimmakos.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Investing in VSCO film emulation software for photography - URL: https://jimmakos.com/vsco-film-emulation-software-for-photography/ - Published: 2015-10-09T12:09:45.000Z - Updated: 2020-12-13T04:20:16.000Z - Description: I pulled the trigger and picked VSCO film emulation software over MastinLabs and ReallyNiceImages. Seven reasons why I didn't wait for Black Friday sales. - Author: Jim Makos I have been digging into film photography lately and in particular film emulation software, since we are living in the digital photography era. As a beginner in photography, I had no idea of this kind of software. I began taking notice when some of the photographers and directors of photography (DPs) I follow at social media mentioned they are using film emulation presets in their published photos. Or at least, they begin editing their photos based on a film emulation preset. I follow most of them for ****learning filmmaking**. I knew this kind of software exists in filmmaking and I bet most of your favorite videos at Vimeo or YouTube incorporate this technology. Emulating film has a lot of advantages both in filmmaking and photography and I am sure you will find out more if you google the term. Personally, I like the film look so I dug deeper. Here’s a recent video recorded with an iPhone 6s and graded with film emulation software (planning to purchase it myself in late November during Black Friday sales): Today, I’m here to tell you that I recently invested in VSCO software and why I made the choice over MastinLabs or ReallyNiceImages. 1. Most of the DPs I follow mention VSCO in their photos’ description. Granted, they may be affiliated/sponsored by VSCO. 2. VSCO offers a free Android app which includes three analog film presets (#4-6), again for free. A nice start for a novice photographer. No more Instagram filters for me and I now need to include VSCO in [my photo sharing routine](https://jimmakos.com/2015/08/photo-sharing-in-social-media/). 3. Adding seven additional VSCO analog film presets to the VSCOcam mobile app cost me two dollars. I wasn’t going to but then [Philip Bloom began posting photos](https://flic.kr/p/yDb29E) from his trip to Cuba using preset #9. 4. The most popular film emulating Lightroom presets is offered in one VSCO package valued at $119\. To get the same presets in MastinLabs, I had to pay three times more. 5. In fact, MastinLabs offer the most accurate film emulation out of the three according to numerous sources online. But as a beginner in photography, I opted for the most affordable solution, knowing the cost. Should I become that good in photography, I may invest in MastinLabs. As a side note, MastinLabs offer 50% revenue to their affiliates whereas VSCO doesn’t have an affiliate program that I know of. I didn’t run into a VSCO affiliate link upon reading reviews, while all links back to MastinLabs website featured an affiliate link. I have no doubts of their excellent software; in fact, I almost convinced myself to purchase a film pack by the highly-reputable [Kirk Mastin](https://twitter.com/mastinstudio). It’s just something I observed. 6. MastinLabs support Canon, Nikon and Fuji camera profiles. As I have my eyes on the Olympus E-M5 Mark II and Sony RX100 IV, I’d rather invest in a future-proof software although it may just be a marketing trick. Standard profiles may work just as well for other brands. 7. ReallyNiceImages offer even more film emulation presets in their latest pack at a similar cost, although they have no camera profiles. Still, it’s the bad press they are receiving in photography communities that steered me away. I didn’t wait for the Black Friday sale that VSCO is (probably) going to offer on November 27\. Checking for previous Black Fridays’ sales, I’d save about $20 for buying my first film pack. I can live with that. > Black Friday + Cyber Monday + VSCO Birthday Sale. [#VSCOfilm](https://twitter.com/hashtag/VSCOfilm?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) & [#VSCOkeys](https://twitter.com/hashtag/VSCOkeys?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) are 15% off now (40% off for current owners!) > > — VSCO (@vsco) [November 23, 2013](https://twitter.com/vsco/status/404059233437491200?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) Of course, I’ll wait for FilmConvert’s sale on that day, given the full bundle’s expensive price ($299). That’s for emulating the film look in your videos. > [#BlackFriday](https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlackFriday?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) sale has kicked off at [#FilmConvert](https://twitter.com/hashtag/FilmConvert?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw). Save Big with 1/3 off all software! Our biggest sale ever [#film](https://twitter.com/hashtag/film?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/mTbYZjFvpM](http://t.co/mTbYZjFvpM) > > — FilmConvert (@FilmConvert) [November 23, 2014](https://twitter.com/FilmConvert/status/536643906876604416?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) By that time, I’ll have experimented with VSCO film photography presets and decide whether I need to invest more in film emulation generally. Of course, much like in [investing](https://jimmakos.com/investing/) and gambling, no software will make me a better artist, investor or advantage gambler. ****They are merely the tools to build my skills and talents with**. And in terms of photography, it’s the man behind the camera that gets the ball rolling. You can find [my photography style and profiles here](https://jimmakos.com/photography/).