luminance range

Definition: Measure of level of contrast of an subject: a wide range -- due to a large difference between highest and lowest luminance -- indicates a high-contrast lighting on an object, a narrow range -- due to small difference between highest and lowest luminance -- indicates low contrast or flat lighting. * Also called subject luminance range. It isn't big enough until it matters enough In practice, the true luminance range in a subject is not what is at issue, it's the luminance range of the bits that matter which matter. Small regions can be as bright or dark as they like, so long as they are small enough to not matter. Classically, for example, specular highlights can be extremely bright, but they are usually ignored when assessing the luminance range.

Previous Term: luminance  Next Term: luminosity