Protect Shadows / Protect Highlights bias toggle
Bias multi-spot averaging toward shadows or highlights.
Where to find it
Viewfinder Metering Mode icon Options tab Multi-Spot Bias
Summary
Tri-state bias toggle for multi-spot mode. Choose AVERAGE (standard mean of all spots), PROTECT_SHADOWS (favors darker spots to preserve shadow detail), or PROTECT_HIGHLIGHTS (favors brighter spots to prevent blown highlights). Sticky bias persists across readings.
Detail
How it works
What it does
Multi-Spot mode has a three-position bias toggle. AVERAGE is the plain mean of every EV you tapped. PROTECT_SHADOWS pulls the result toward the darker spots, so shadow detail gets priority. PROTECT_HIGHLIGHTS pulls toward the brighter spots, protecting against clipped highlights.
AVERAGE mode
The default. All spots are weighted equally. If you tap a shadow (EV 5), a midtone (EV 10), and a highlight (EV 14), the average is (5 + 10 + 14) / 3 = 9.67 EV.
PROTECT_SHADOWS mode
The shadow spot (EV 5) is weighted more heavily. The final EV is closer to 7-8 instead of 9.67. This biases exposure brighter to preserve shadow detail at the cost of risking blown highlights.
PROTECT_HIGHLIGHTS mode
The highlight spot (EV 14) is weighted more heavily. The final EV is closer to 11-12 instead of 9.67. This biases exposure darker to prevent clipping at the cost of risking shadow crush.
Film-aware default
Slide film prefers bright, contrasty exposures, so the app defaults to PROTECT_HIGHLIGHTS for slide stock. Negative film prefers shadow detail and less contrast, so PROTECT_SHADOWS is the default for negative stocks.
Sticky bias
Your choice (AVERAGE, PROTECT_SHADOWS, or PROTECT_HIGHLIGHTS) persists the next time you enter Multi-Spot mode. The setting is saved to the current film stock's profile.