Whole gradation thing is total *beep*
I really enjoy P&Ts documentaries, but they really need to be called out on total bull crap from time to time.
The whole human eyes and graduated light thing is total crap, and it's easily seen in a comparison between the original Vermeer and Tim's creation. Tim's is missing all kinds of gradations that are IN Vermeer's!
The biggest example is in the ceiling beams, where Vermeer properly reflects and gradates the light coming in the window along their length, Tim just has flat panels. Another example is on the stringed instrument and other areas.
So not only is it not true, Tim himself disproves it.