The range of luminances actually achieved in a display. The system’s overall transfer function is the most informative specification of dynamic range, inasmuch as nonlinear processing has nearly always been applied to the luminance of the reproduced scene.

Frequently, however, the dynamic range, display is estimated by observing the reproduction of a stepped gray-scale having calibrated intervals.

Conventionally, the dynamic range is reported to include every step whose transition can be detected, no matter how miniscule. Human vision is less adept at judging luminance of extended areas, but particularly sensitive to luminance transitions which may even have been exaggerated by edge enhancement. “Resolved steps” may be reported, therefore, even when the perceived luminance difference between the areas of adjacent steps is not obvious.