contrastyadj.
/ˈkɒntrɑːsti/, /ˈkɒntrasti/, U.S. /ˈkɑnˌtræsti/, /kənˈtræsti/ Marked by or exhibiting (strong) contrasts; esp. of photographic negatives or prints, having very marked contrast of light and shade.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > a photograph > qualities and effects > [adjective] > contrast, etc.
greyed1730
strong1841
intense1879
contrasty1891
low key1897
flat1901
posterized1936
1891 Internat. Ann. Anthonys Photogr. Bull. 117 It is often advisable to print from contrasty negatives on unfumed paper.
1920 F. J. Mortimer Wall's Dict. Photogr. (ed. 10) 173 Should the negative be over-exposed and over-developed..the transparency should have the minimum exposure so that a prolonged development can be given..with a strong developer... If the negative is a contrasty one, exactly the reverse is done.
1929 A. J. S[heldon] in B'ham Post 30 Mar. 14/2 We were forced to make sudden adjustments of the listening faculty to a very contrasty scheme of tonal values.
1953 A. Matheson Leica Way (ed. 2) 152 Specially contrasty views which the film could not reproduce in their full tone range.
1962 L. Deighton Ipcress File 219 A little extra development to get a good contrasty image.
1968 Guardian 28 Feb. 2/8 A contrasty waistcoat and tie are needed.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1891