How to Apply Preset Recipes on Your Ricoh GR III (Step-by-Step)

So you have picked up a Ricoh GR III preset recipe and you are ready to transform your photography. Applying camera recipes is straightforward once you know where everything lives in the menu system. This step-by-step guide walks you through the entire process, from opening the settings menu to saving your custom profile for quick access.

What You Will Need

• A Ricoh GR III or GR IIIx camera with the latest firmware
• The preset recipe settings (you will receive these when you purchase a recipe from our shop)
• A few minutes of time

Step 1: Access the Image Control Menu

Turn on your Ricoh GR III and press the MENU button on the back of the camera. Navigate to the Shooting Settings tab (the camera icon). Scroll down until you find Image Control. Press the right arrow or OK button to enter the Image Control settings.

Alternatively, you can use a shortcut: press the ADJ lever to the right and cycle through the adjustment options until you reach Image Control. This is faster once you are familiar with the camera's controls.

Step 2: Select the Base Image Control

Each preset recipe starts with a base Image Control mode. Common bases include:

• Standard -- neutral starting point
• Vivid -- boosted saturation and contrast
• Monotone -- black and white
• Soft Monotone -- softer black and white
• Positive Film -- warmer, richer tones similar to slide film
• Bleach Bypass -- desaturated, high contrast
• Retro -- vintage-style rendering
• HDR Tone -- expanded dynamic range look
• Cross Processing -- experimental color shifts

Select the base mode specified in your recipe. For example, if the recipe calls for "Positive Film," highlight that option and press OK.

Step 3: Adjust the Detailed Parameters

With the base Image Control selected, press the right arrow button to enter the detailed parameter adjustments. This is where you will dial in the specific values from your preset recipe. The available parameters are:

Saturation: Controls color intensity. Negative values produce more muted tones; positive values increase vibrancy. Range is typically -4 to +4.

Hue: Shifts the overall color balance. This is a subtle but powerful control. Range is -4 to +4.

Key (Key Adjustment): Controls overall brightness of the image. Positive values brighten the image; negative values darken it. Range is -4 to +4.

Contrast: Adjusts the overall tonal range. Higher values produce punchier images with deeper blacks and brighter whites. Range is -4 to +4.

Contrast (Highlight): Fine-tunes contrast specifically in the bright areas of the image. Range is -4 to +4.

Contrast (Shadow): Fine-tunes contrast specifically in the dark areas. Range is -4 to +4.

Sharpening: Controls edge sharpness. Lower values produce a softer look; higher values add crispness. Range is 0 to 9.

Toning: Adds a color cast to the image. Range is -4 to +4, where negative values add blue toning and positive values add amber.

Clarity: Adjusts midtone contrast for a sense of depth and dimension. Range is -4 to +4.

Use the up and down arrows to change each value, and the left and right arrows to move between parameters. Match every value exactly as specified in your purchased recipe.

Step 4: Set White Balance

Exit the Image Control detail screen by pressing the MENU button. Navigate to White Balance in the Shooting Settings menu. Set the white balance mode and compensation values as specified in your recipe.

Many recipes use a specific Kelvin temperature (set via Manual WB) or use Auto White Balance with a specific compensation shift. The white balance compensation screen lets you shift the color along both the amber-blue and green-magenta axes. These shifts are critical to achieving the exact look of the recipe.

Step 5: Configure Additional Settings

Some recipes include additional settings beyond Image Control and White Balance:

• Peripheral Illumination Correction -- controls vignetting
• High-ISO Noise Reduction -- affects how the camera handles noise at higher ISOs
• ND Filter -- the built-in neutral density filter setting
• Grain Effect -- adds film-grain texture to your images

If your recipe specifies these settings, navigate to each one in the Shooting Settings menu and adjust accordingly.

Step 6: Save as a Custom User Profile

Once all settings are dialed in, you will want to save the configuration so you can recall it instantly. Go to MENU > Custom Settings > Register Current Settings. Choose one of the available user mode slots (U1, U2, or U3). Give it a name if the firmware supports it, or simply remember which slot corresponds to which recipe.

Now you can switch to this saved profile at any time by turning the mode dial to U1, U2, or U3.

Step 7: Test and Shoot

Take a few test shots to confirm the look matches the sample images provided with your recipe. Shoot in different lighting conditions to see how the recipe responds. Minor white balance tweaks may be needed depending on your specific shooting environment.

Tips for Best Results

• Shoot in JPEG or RAW+JPEG. The recipe settings only affect JPEG output. If you shoot RAW-only, the in-camera processing will not be applied to your files.
• Review on a calibrated screen. The GR III's rear LCD is good but not perfectly color-accurate. Review images on your computer or phone for the truest representation.
• Save multiple recipes. The GR III's user modes let you store up to three complete configurations. Swap between them depending on the scene.
• Keep the recipe card handy. If you need to re-enter the settings after a firmware update or camera reset, having the recipe values saved digitally makes the process quick.

Ready to find your next favorite look? Browse our full collection of Ricoh GR III preset recipes and start shooting with a new creative vision today.