zone system

noun

, Photography.

1. a system for envisioning the values to appear in a black-and-white print and for determining exposure and development, based on a scale of shades ranging from 0 (black) to IX (white).

Word History and Origins

Origin of zone system¹

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Lachman also deployed another tool dubbed the EL Zone System, which he created.

From Los Angeles Times

This unique combination of equipment was then used with Lachman’s own patented EL Zone System, which employsconcepts utilized by photographer Ansel Adams to control different exposure values throughout an image.

From Los Angeles Times

Many gardeners are familiar with the USDA’s Plant Hardiness Zone system: The lower temperature limit for Mexican fan palms, around 15 degrees Fahrenheit, is right in the middle of Zone 8.

From Slate

In workshops, instruction books and articles, he emphasized his technique for making perfect exposures, called the Zone System.

From New York Times

From The Times: Major League Baseball is considering adopting an automated strike zone system as soon as 2024, potentially ending the era of umpires at the World Series.

From New York Times