vivo Product Manager Han Boxiao provided a systematic explanation of the newly launched "Native Light and Shadow" feature on the X300 series. Since its launch, this feature has garnered widespread attention from users. Its core concept is to reduce AI algorithm intervention, pursuing a light and shadow texture closer to what the human eye sees, satisfying some users' preference for "realistic" images.
According to Han Boxiao, starting with the vivo X200 series, the team received feedback from users who wanted a shooting mode that would reduce the intensity of AI adjustments, in order to more realistically reproduce the original light and shadow and details of the scene. Although in the current era of mobile computational photography, all flagship phones rely on AI algorithms for dynamic range, color reproduction, and detail enhancement to produce high-quality images, completely removing algorithms would lead to a significant decline in image quality. However, vivo still decided to respond to this specific need.
Therefore, vivo launched the "Native Light and Shadow" feature for the first time in the X300 series. Unlike other similar modes in the industry, this feature truly achieves extremely low algorithm intervention. Its working principle is to disable computational photography features such as HDR, XDR, and super telephoto enhancement, while aligning the tonal gradation and sharpening logic with the humanistic mode, ensuring a high degree of consistency between the camera preview and the final image. For example, when shooting high-frequency detail scenes such as pet fur and fabric textures, the image's lighting, color, and detail will not be distorted due to excessive algorithm optimization, truly achieving "what you see is what you get."
This feature can be manually enabled or disabled through the settings in the upper right corner of the [Photo] interface, and is off by default. Han Boxiao emphasizes that [Native Light and Shadow] is not a "better solution" to replace the default mode, but rather a supplementary option for different aesthetic preferences. For users who pursue convenience and high-quality images, it is recommended to continue using the standard mode; while users with personalized image style needs can enable it as needed.
The official statement also reminds users that this feature may have limited performance in complex lighting environments and is not recommended for long-term exclusive use. However, in specific scenarios, such as recording life moments or pursuing a film-like texture, enabling [Native Light and Shadow] can bring a completely different shooting experience, essentially making one phone handle both computational photography and optical image reproduction.
