About Us > Our History

Yes, but what does "Zone 5" mean?

The "Zone System" was developed by the famous photographer Ansel Adams as a basic, straightforward method to control black and white photographic exposure. The system is a set of techniques that allows photographers the greatest possible control over the characteristics of black-and-white film. Moving from black to white, Adams took this spectrum of print values and assigned a zone to each value – 1-9. This resulted in the "Zone Scale."

Based on the fact that the camera’s light meter averages the value of light it sees, the Zone System offers suggested settings for each print value – all of which result in the same exposure. That exposure is for a mid-gray Zone 5.

This photographic knowledge was necessary in the beginning. Back then we were officially known as "Zone V Lithographic Prepress," formed in 1989 to serve the photographic and technical needs of the printing industry. We built our reputation on an ability to harness the often capricious technology of those early days. And technological mastery remains one of our core values. Today, Zone 5 is the only regional firm offering strategic marketing communications services coupled with state-of-the-art digital production and new media services.

Together, we can impact your company in many ways. We can create a unique, compelling brand that helps secure funding. Inspire your employees. Distinguish you from your competition. And, most important, create demand and preference for your products and services.