The Practical Zone System, 4th Edition

 

 

CHAPTER 2

PRINT QUALITY AND NEGATIVE CONTRAST

 

Let's begin by defining a few important terms. Throughout this book you will find that the word contrast has different meanings depending on whether I am referring to the contrast of the subject you are photographing or the negative that you will use to make the print. In general, the word contrast refers to the relative difference between dark and light areas of the subject or negative.

Note: In the world of digital photography the term dynamic range is often used instead of contrast when referring to the difference between the darkest and lightest tonal values in an image.

SUBJECT CONTRAST refers to the difference between the amounts of light reflected by the darker, or “shadow,” areas ...