contrasty

[ kuhn-tras-tee, kon-tras- ]

adjective

, Photography.

1. (of a subject, photograph, or film stock) having or producing a preponderance of dark and light tones with few intermediate shades.

contrasty

/ kənˈtrɑːstɪ /

adjective

1. (of a photograph or subject) having sharp gradations in tone, esp between light and dark areas

Word History and Origins

Origin of contrasty¹

First recorded in 1890–95; contrast + -y ¹

Example Sentences

It handles contrasty light well, and the lens coating repels droplets when shooting in and near water.

From Los Angeles Times

Photos from the 6A look like photos from a Pixel camera: contrasty with a slightly cool white balance and vivid colors that don’t cross into oversaturated territory.

From The Verge

Photos in dim and low light sometimes look overly smoothed and other times look dark and contrasty.

From The Verge

Wood left natural, she added, can end up problematically “bossy and contrasty.”

From New York Times

You may know that Samsung phones take super vivid photos or that Google Pixel phones take photos that are more contrasty and blue.

From The Verge