The region of digital images that determines image detail, clarity and color most is the middle tones. The final appearance of every image is determined by the way these tones are adjusted and shaped. When the middle tones are shaped properly, pictures print cleaner and colors appear brighter. In this chapter, you’ll learn techniques that will make a huge difference in the way your pictures appear in print.

By carefully adjusting the image's middle tones you will bring more life and detail into your photographs than you may have thought possible. While most of the attention in the photographic world is focused on the highlights and shadows, the placement of the mid tones will make all the difference. Once you’ve learned how to adjust the mid-tonal detail in your images, your will infuse amazing life into your pictures.

Tonal range simply refers to the area between the darkest tone (shadow) and the lightest tone (highlight) in each image. Not all photos have the same tonal range. Pictures of clouds are mainly middle tones and highlights, while those taken in the forest may contain only shadow and middle tones. Prepare your images in such a way that the full mood and emotion of the original scene is preserved.

A photographic print’s tonal range is determined by the whiteness of the paper and the dark properties of the ink (or pigment). In between these two extremes are the quarter tones, middle tones, and three-quarter tones. In this chapter we will discuss the incredibly important role that a picture’s middle tones play in keeping a picture “clean.”

This is one of the most important chapters in the Correct Color book. Learn to control the middle tones and watch your pictures deliver real detail.

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