The range of luminances actually captured in the image is defined and limited by the transfer function which is usually nonlinear. Capture and recording systems traditionally limit their linear response to a central portion of their dynamic range, and may have extended nonlinear shoulder and toe regions. For any scene, it is usually possible to place the luminances of interest on a preferred portion of the transfer function, with excursions into higher and lower limits rolled off or truncated by the respective shoulder and toe of the curve.