Zone system

In photography, the zone system is a technique invented by Ansel Adams and Fred Archer in 1939 or 1940. It is one of the earliest methods to give photographers systematic control of their images by precisely defining the relationships between their equipment and materials.

Darkroom

Ansel Adams generally used selenium toner when processing prints. Selenium toning can alter the color of a print and act as a preservative, but Adams used it subtly, primarily because it can add almost a full zone to the tonal range of the final print, producing richer dark tones that still held detail.

Related Topics:
Selenium - Selenium toning

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The zone system requires that every variable in photography, from exposure to darkroom production of the print, be calibrated and controlled. The print is the last link in a chain of events, no less important to the zone system than exposure and development of the film. With practice, the photographer visualizes the final print as the shutter is released.

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