ABSTRACT
Zone System basics are easy to understand, but mastery comes only with a full comprehension of its role within the complete photographic process. It is important to realize that the Zone System is not an exclusive technique but only a building block for a quality print. It does not replace other darkroom techniques but promotes them from rescue operations to fine-tuning tools. The Zone System ensures a good negative as a starting point, because it is important to have plenty of detail in shadows and highlights. Nevertheless, only additional printing techniques turn a good print into a fine print. I recommend the Zone System to control overall negative contrast and to fine-tune local image contrast during printing, as demonstrated in the following examples.
