Contrast.

Subjective differences in brightness between light and dark areas (highlight and shadow) in an image.

High contrast images have a lot of black or white in them; low-contrast images have a lot of similar shades of grey. Film is generally able to record a greater contrast range (dynamic range) than paper on the whole. Though obvious exceptions such as lith paper exist.

cf. contrast mask, dynamic range, highlights, shadow.

Entry last updated 2002-04-04. Term 268 of 1487.

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