ABSTRACT
The viewer can distinguish a wider tonal range in transparencies because they are viewed by transmitted light. A highcontrast transparency can have a “readable” tonal range, from the whitest white to blackest black, of about 400:1 when projected, and even more when viewed directly. This ratio is an indicator of how well the detail and color saturation are clearly separated in the key highlight and shadow areas. A color print viewed in normal room light can have a tonal range of only about 100:1. It is usually closer to 85:1 due to light scattering caused by the surface of the print. It is said that an “average” daylight scene has a brightness range of 160:1 or higher. This means that transparency film can do a superior job of capturing a fuller range of tones in many situations. Also, since transparency film provides greater luminosity, which is the perception of brightness, a well-shot slide can appear more luminous than the actual subject and evoke a visual response even more intense than the original does. This can be an effective aesthetic device that utilizes the subjective nature of color to create the impression that a subject is emitting light.
