mikrokontrast

Mikrokontrast, often translated as microcontrast, is a term used in photography and image processing to describe the local tonal differences within small regions of an image. It characterizes the amount of contrast present at fine spatial scales and strongly influences perceived sharpness and texture. This is distinct from global contrast, which refers to the overall brightness difference between the lightest and darkest areas of a scene.

Microcontrast arises from natural scene detail, lens and sensor performance, and post-processing. Higher mikrokontrast makes edges and textures more defined, while lower mikrokontrast yields smoother, flatter areas. It can be affected by noise, demosaicing artifacts, and lighting conditions that reveal or obscure fine details.

Quantifying mikrokontrast uses local image statistics or frequency-domain measures such as high-pass content and local standard deviation, or other local contrast operators. In practice, photographers adjust microcontrast with editing tools labeled as clarity, texture, or local contrast; and some cameras offer in-camera microcontrast processing to enhance perceived sharpness without widening the global contrast range.

Applications include still photography, print reproduction, and medical imaging where texture details matter. In art and visual culture, maintaining natural mikrokontrast helps preserve realism and tactile impression under controlled illumination.

See also: local contrast, edge detection, sharpening, high-pass filter.