IX Slight tone, without any texture.
X Pure white, and specula highlights.
AlthoughthenegativeinAnselAdams’timecouldrecord
thevast dynamic tonal range,the difficultywould arise
whenthe printerwouldtry to utilizeall theinformation
gathered when the print was produced in ‘normal’
situations.Andassuchitwouldneedfurthermanipulation
suchasdodgingandburningoftheimagetodrawallthe
information from it.
It was accepted that 0–X was the full range possible.
However,thefullrangewasunlikelytobeachievedfroma
singleun-manipulatedprintstraightfromthenegative.The
DynamicRange,effectivelyZoneI–X,wouldrepresentthe
darkestand the lightestuseful part ofthe negative.The
Textural Range was where there would appear to be a
recognizable texture or substance, in Zones II–VIII.
This system encourages the photographer/printer to
pre-visualize theimage and what they required from it,
makingconscious decisionsasto whereto placevarious
tones within the frame.
The Zone system can be applied in many areas of
photography,fromthehistogramsusedtoreadimageson
cameras to the output at the other end with the final print.
Withthisinmindallphotographerswishingtopursuethis
system must ensure that all parts of the process are in
completeharmonywitheachother–thecamera,monitor
usedtomanipulate,printer,inksandpaper.Eachofthese
willhaveitsownvariablesthatwillneedtobeconsidered
and explored to get the required result.