Contrast

High Contrast

Low Contrast

Correct Contrast

When the contrast is increased, the range of tones is decreased: the very lightest grays will snap to white, and the very darkest grays will snap to black. This process makes the photo appear crisper.

If contrast is increased too much, detail is lost as darks and lights snap to an extreme. Notice in the sample that the girl's face has lost most of the tonal range where the light strikes her forehead.

As contrast is decreased, the range of tones is increased, which makes the photo appear more gray and flat.

If the contrast is decreased too much, then blacks and whites fade to gray and the photo appears washed out, as in this sample.

This photo strikes a balance, enhancing detail without eliminating it.