midtones

Midtones are the middle range of brightness values in an image, between shadows (dark areas) and highlights (bright areas). They include most of the perceived detail and contribute significantly to the sense of form and texture. In grayscale terms, midtones are those brightness levels around the central portion of the tonal scale; in color images, midtones are defined across luminance channels and can vary by color.

In photography and film, midtones are critical for rendering depth. The histogram of an image often shows midtone values occupying the central region; preserving them helps avoid flat images and clipping in shadows or highlights can destroy detail in the midtones.

Digital editing uses curves and gamma adjustments to shape midtones. An S-curve raises contrast by brightening highlights relative to midtones and darkening shadows; other curves can compress or expand midtones to recover detail or achieve a particular mood. Tone-mapping for high dynamic range content also aims to retain natural midtone detail when translating to display luminance.

In practice, midtones influence texture and color balance. For printers and displays, accurate midtone reproduction depends on calibration, material response, and color management. Artists and designers may intentionally manipulate midtones to create a particular emphasis or atmosphere, while photographers often aim to preserve natural midtone transitions to maintain realism.