Final answer:
The statement is false; low-key lighting actually creates high contrast with significant shadows, contributing to a mood of suspense and mystery, and is distinct from high-key lighting, which provides lower contrast and more even illumination.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that low-key lighting produces a low-contrast and evenly lit image, with substantial detail even in the shadows is false. Low-key lighting is characterized by high contrast, with a dominance of shadowy areas that usually envelop the scene or subject.
This type of lighting is often used in theater and film to create a mood of suspense and mystery, and to focus the audience's attention on specific areas while using available light sources, such as a single table lamp on stage.
Lighting designers may use additional key (primary) and fill (secondary) lights to enhance the perceived brightness of this single light source while ensuring that the audience believes only the visible source is lighting the scene. High-key lighting, in contrast, is what produces a lower contrast, more evenly lit image with more details in the shadows.
It generally implies a brighter overall picture with less pronounced shadows and is typically associated with happier or more comedic scenes, rather than the intense atmosphere generated by low-key lighting.