Pull Processing
Rating a film below its nominal speed and shortening development to compensate.
Measured in
stops
In depth
Pulling reduces contrast, which makes it valuable for very high-contrast scenes: the extra exposure secures the shadows while the shortened development stops the highlights building excessive density. It is the practical expression of the Zone System's 'expose for the shadows, develop for the highlights'.
Examples in practice
A harshly lit street scene shot at half box speed and pulled one stop keeps detail in both the sunlit wall and the doorway.