Polaroid PX-100UV+ Cold — Picture Style for Canon
Instant film emulation — an approximation, not affiliated with the brand
A look inspired by Polaroid PX-100UV+ Cold, adapted as a Picture Style (PF3) with a compatible structure for Canon EOS cameras: it loads as its own style and works in-camera and in Digital Photo Professional. It is not a Polaroid product nor is it affiliated with the brand.
The recipe
Six-axis grading (H / S / L)
| Axis | Hue | Sat | Lum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | -22 | -18 | +12 |
| Yellow | 0 | -18 | 0 |
| Green | +28 | -18 | +6 |
| Cyan | 0 | -18 | 0 |
| Blue | +28 | -18 | 0 |
| Magenta | +16 | -18 | +6 |
Tone curve (11 points)
0,60 · 24,67 · 48,83 · 72,103 · 96,121 · 128,144 · 159,169 · 191,193 · 215,208 · 239,218 · 255,223
Compatible with Canon EOS cameras with Picture Styles (loaded via EOS Utility, Picture Style Editor or SD card). The file includes the six-axis grading, the tone curve and the basic parameters; the preview on this page was generated with the same color transformation written into the PF3.
About the Polaroid PX-100UV+ Cold look
When Polaroid walked away from integral film, The Impossible Project rescued the factories and spent years reinventing the chemistry from scratch. The PX 100 UV+ was one of its films for the SX-70 folding cameras: a formula with improved ultraviolet sensitivity, famous for its slow development process and its cold, blueish palette of milky whites. It is the instant film of the rescue era — imperfect, demanding, and perfectly pitched for nostalgia.
Its look is cold without being gray: pale blues in the highlights, muted magentas in the shadows, porcelain skin and an overall haze that softens everything it touches. Contrast is low-to-medium and transitions stretch out, a byproduct of the artisanal chemistry that made it. Every image seems to come out of a foggy morning: still, pale, melancholic.
It works beautifully on melancholic portrait, fog, winter, the sea on overcast days and any scene where calm is the message. Interiors with cool window light suit it to a T. It is also an author's look for projects about memory and time, where the imperfect finish adds instead of subtracting.
This Picture Style for Canon recreates that calibration with a grade that cools mids and highlights without muddying the shadows, plus a gentle contrast curve. The result comes out at capture with that rescued-factory integral air. With RAW+JPEG you keep the alternative: the instant cool look and the full negative for later developments.
Deploy it with fog, fine rain and winter light: the humid atmosphere multiplies its characteristic haze. For portrait, ask your subject to move close to the window and work with the softness: this look forgives skin, not forced poses. Pair it with textured details (wool, paper, whitewashed walls) to make the most of its matte, silent rendering. Patience is the only accessory this look requires. Muted days are its favorite canvas.
Frequently asked questions
Is this an official Polaroid product?
No. It is an independent emulation created by FilmTone, inspired by the color character of Polaroid PX-100UV+ Cold. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Polaroid; film names are mentioned only to describe the look being emulated.
Which Canon cameras support this Picture Style?
Any Canon EOS with Picture Styles and User Def. slots: DSLRs from the 350D onward, EOS R and M mirrorless bodies, and recent PowerShot models. The PF3 file registers into a free slot and is selected like any factory style.
How do I install it on the camera?
Three routes: with EOS Utility over USB or Wi-Fi (the most universal), opening the PF3 in Picture Style Editor and registering it, or from the SD card on recent models that allow it. We have a step-by-step guide in the guides section of the site.
Does it affect my RAW files?
The style applies to the JPEG, the on-screen preview and the RAW pre-render, but the RAW keeps all the sensor information: you can change or remove the style later in Digital Photo Professional. Shooting RAW+JPEG gives you both the instant look and the untouched digital negative.
Does it cost anything to download?
No. Downloading the PF3 is free and you can customize the name your camera will show (1–24 ASCII characters). The project runs on voluntary Ko-fi donations.