In
photography, the
Zone System is a technique invented by
Ansel Adams to simplify and standardise the production of black-and-white
photography. The Zone System allows a photographer to translate their idea into a print.
The Zone System separates the pictures tones into eleven zones, numbered using Roman numerals.
- 0: Pure black
- I: Near black
- II: Dark gray / black
- III: Very dark gray
- IV: Medium dark gray
- V: Medium gray (equal to Kodak's 18% Grey cards)
- VI: Mid-tone gray
- VII: Light gray
- VIII: Gray / white
- IX: Near white
- X: Paper base (Pure white)