What are the high-key, low-key, hard key and soft key in photography?

1, high-profile: bright colors are the main colors in the photos. The whole photo is a large area of bright color, with no obvious shadows, projections, etc. The whole photo is clean.

2. Low-key: Black tones occupy a large area on the photo screen, while white tones occupy a small area, and the tone of the whole picture is relatively thick and deep.

3. Hard tone: There is a strong contrast between light and shade and color in the picture, and there is no hierarchical transition in the middle. The color of the scene uses more primary colors, less transition colors and complementary colors.

4. Soft tone: The light and shade contrast between the light-receiving surface and the backlight surface of the scene in the picture is soft, the color contrast is harmonious and the contrast is small. Most of the scene colors are complementary transition colors, and the transition layers in the middle of the soft tone picture are rich, with small level difference and delicate texture.

Extended data

When taking low-key photos, you should pay attention to the following points:

1. In order to make photos conform to real life, the tone of low-key photos must be determined according to the characteristics of the subject. For example, the close-ups of coal miners, the workers in front of the blazing steelmaking furnace, the people who study or work under the lights at night, the old people, etc. can all be expressed in a low-key way, so that the emotions of the characters in the picture are deep, rich, melancholy and heavy, and they can be portrayed more deeply.

2. Low-key photos should choose a black background, so that the subject can be completely set off on the black tone. Only in this way can the outline and facial features of the main characters in the picture be separated from the background under the action of light, and the spiritual temperament of the characters in the picture can be fully expressed.

3. The use of low-key photos determines the success or failure of low-key photos. Low-key photos mostly use large side light and side backlight, highlighting part of the subject's five senses and obvious personality characteristics, which makes people have a distinct impression at first glance. The subject is clearly defined and separated from the background, showing the three-dimensional sense and texture of the subject.

Baidu encyclopedia-low-key photography

Baidu Encyclopedia-High-profile photos

Baidu encyclopedia-hard sound screen

Baidu Encyclopedia-Soft Tone Pictures