This research is to compare the reproduction characteristics of silver halide and digital
photography according to the lighting ratio and understand the difference between them in order
to suggest the right control method of lighting ratio in the digital photography. The lighting
ratio means the difference in the quantity of key light and fill light and because it affects on the
brightness and contrast of overall photography, it is used as a major technique to express a
three-dimensional effect of the subject. Also, the brightness and contrast in the photograph can
change the delivered information by the subject and emotional and cognitive system of human,
therefore, it becomes a significant technique to express the image. Specially, because the
lighting ratio in portrait photography plays significant role in portrait of a person, the research
on the lighting ratio has been done steadily so far. Therefore, it can be seen that the lighting
ratio theory in silver halide had been established as empirical data or literature. As approaching
to the digital photography period, however, many photographers are undergoing confusion in
reproduction of the lighting ratio in digital photography. It is because that the expression
method with the existing experience and data may not be accurately applicable to the digital
photography. In digital photography, it reproduces differently from the film according to the
characteristic of digital camera. In the experiment of this research, as the lighting ratio becomes
higher, the film showed that the brightness of shadow became darker while the digital camera
showed the brightness of shadow are became brighter. Therefore, compared to the film, the
contrast of photograph taken by digital camera was lower. In order to make similar reproduction
with film when using digital camera, similar lighting ratio with film should be maintained from
1:1 to 1:8, but from 1:16, the quantity of fill light should be reduced by 1/3∼2/3 stop
sequentially. Or, in case of photographing with the same lighting ratio with film, it is
recommended to reduce the brightness of dark area through retouching. As this may be
dependent on the kind of processor or what parameter was used, however, it is suggested to
test the characteristic of digital camera just as to understand that of film.
This research is to compare the reproduction characteristics of silver halide and digital
photography according to the lighting ratio and understand the difference between them in order
to suggest the right control method of lighting ratio in the digital photography. The lighting
ratio means the difference in the quantity of key light and fill light and because it affects on the
brightness and contrast of overall photography, it is used as a major technique to express a
three-dimensional effect of the subject. Also, the brightness and contrast in the photograph can
change the delivered information by the subject and emotional and cognitive system of human,
therefore, it becomes a significant technique to express the image. Specially, because the
lighting ratio in portrait photography plays significant role in portrait of a person, the research
on the lighting ratio has been done steadily so far. Therefore, it can be seen that the lighting
ratio theory in silver halide had been established as empirical data or literature. As approaching
to the digital photography period, however, many photographers are undergoing confusion in
reproduction of the lighting ratio in digital photography. It is because that the expression
method with the existing experience and data may not be accurately applicable to the digital
photography. In digital photography, it reproduces differently from the film according to the
characteristic of digital camera. In the experiment of this research, as the lighting ratio becomes
higher, the film showed that the brightness of shadow became darker while the digital camera
showed the brightness of shadow are became brighter. Therefore, compared to the film, the
contrast of photograph taken by digital camera was lower. In order to make similar reproduction
with film when using digital camera, similar lighting ratio with film should be maintained from
1:1 to 1:8, but from 1:16, the quantity of fill light should be reduced by 1/3∼2/3 stop
sequentially. Or, in case of photographing with the same lighting ratio with film, it is
recommended to reduce the brightness of dark area through retouching. As this may be
dependent on the kind of processor or what parameter was used, however, it is suggested to
test the characteristic of digital camera just as to understand that of film.