ABSTRACT
In the previous chapter, we clarified how film and paper, through their s-shaped characteristic curves, are responsible for the nonlinear tonal distribution and, consequently, for the image gradation and final tone reproduction of the subject values in the print. Through disciplined exposure and contrast control of film and paper, a photographer can precisely dictate specific shadow and highlight densities (typically the boundaries of the pictorial or textural range), but all other image tones depend exclusively on the individual film and paper selection as well as the interaction of their developed densities. In other words, shadow and highlight extremes can be harnessed through exposure and contrast control, but image gradation and final tone reproduction are material dependent.
