Evolution of the mean contrast (solid black line) and the maximum contrast (dashed red line) in plane D of a 4QPM coronagraph (left) and a VVC (right) used with a circular clear aperture, for a mask radius L up to 320λ/D (for the 4QPM) and up to 64λ/D (for the VPM). An 80% transmission Lyot stop was used, and both pupil planes A and C were discretized over 4096 by 4096 points (for the 4QPM) and over 512 by 512 points (for the VPM).