Highlight Clipping Highlight clipping refers to the loss of detail and information in the brightest areas of an image due to overexposure. When a digital image is overexposed, the brightest highlights may become completely white with no visible detail, resulting in a loss of texture, color, and tonal information. This phenomenon is often referred to as "blown-out highlights."
Highlight clipping can occur when the exposure settings of the camera are too high, or when the dynamic range of the scene exceeds the capabilities of the camera sensor. In post-processing, highlight clipping can be identified by using tools such as the histogram or highlight alert (blinkies) in image editing software. To recover detail in clipped highlights, photographers may use exposure adjustment tools or HDR techniques during post-processing.