Spatial Contrast: Spatial contrast refers to the difference in brightness between adjacent areas in an image.
Why it matters: HDR’s superpower isn’t extreme nits—it’s faithfully reproducing spatial contrast relationships that SDR compresses.
Supplement to: HDR Myths, Terminology-Driven Workflow Errors + Practices, Etc.
The Path Forward
- Expose for highlight retention (ETTR)
- Grade for local, not global, contrast
- Reject nihilistic lighting/exposure rhetoric
When cinematographers dismiss exposure or colorists cap nits, they sabotage spatial contrast — HDR’s core strength. A few of the industry practices killing contrast are addressed in the table below.
HDR Myths, Terminology-Driven Workflow Errors + Practices, Etc.
The Daejeon Chronicles 