Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

What indicates a sharp cutoff of tones at either end of a histogram?

1. Saturation

2. Clipping

3. Compression

4. Distortion

The correct answer is: Clipping

A sharp cutoff of tones at either end of a histogram is indicative of clipping. This phenomenon occurs when the tonal range of an image exceeds the limits of the sensor or the dynamic range of the display device. In practical terms, it means that the brightest highlights may lose detail because they are rendered as pure white (in the case of highlight clipping), and the darkest shadows may similarly lose detail by being rendered as pure black (in the case of shadow clipping). When clipping happens, the information that would normally indicate subtle gradations in brightness and color is lost, leading to areas of the image that are devoid of detail. This can be visually recognized on a histogram, where you would see abrupt transitions and no data at the extremes – a clear, sharp cutoff on either end of the scale. Saturation, while related to the richness of color, does not directly refer to the tonal cutoff in this context. Compression generally refers to reducing file sizes or dynamic range, and distortion could refer to alterations in the image shape or perspective, neither of which specifically relate to the histogram's representation of tone cutoff. Therefore, recognizing clipping is essential for achieving a well-balanced exposure in photography, as it impacts the overall quality of the image.