What term describes the focus quality where only a thin band of an image is rendered sharply?

The term that describes the focus quality where only a thin band of an image is rendered sharply is known as Shallow Depth of Field. This technique involves using a wide aperture, which results in a narrower range of distance in which objects appear in focus. As a result, subject isolation can occur, allowing viewers to focus specifically on the subject while the background and foreground appear blurred.

Shallow Depth of Field is often used in photography and cinematography to create a more dramatic and visually appealing image. It helps direct attention to specific elements within the frame, enhancing storytelling by highlighting the subject's emotional or narrative significance while minimizing distractions from the surrounding scene.

Other concepts like Wide Depth of Field, Deep Focus, and Selective Focus describe different focal characteristics. Wide Depth of Field keeps much of the scene in focus, while Deep Focus allows for a greater depth throughout the frame, showing both foreground and background sharply. Selective Focus, while closely related to Shallow Depth of Field, can be more broadly interpreted as deliberately focusing on a specific area of an image, which may not only involve a thin band of focus. The specific emphasis on the narrow band of sharpness makes Shallow Depth of Field the most accurate term in this case.