Four examples of stellar continuum subtraction at low redshift (z < 0.436, one per redshift bin). For each panel, the original stacked spectrum (green), the most suitable stellar continuum to be subtracted (orange) and the resulting zCOSMOS stacked spectrum after the stellar continuum subtraction (black) are shown. The main emission and absorpion lines are labeled at the top top. From top to bottom and from left to right total stellar mass and redshift increase. Top-left panel: stacked spectrum of the bin 9.25 ≤ log M_∗/M_⊙ < 9.5, 0.177 ≤ z < 0.242, stellar template representing a 290-Myr-old simple stellar population (SSP) with Z = 0.2 and E(B − V) = 0.4; top-right panel: 9.75 < log M_∗/M_⊙ ≤ 10, 0.242 ≤ z < 0.306, 12-Gyr-old stellar template with exponential decay of the star formation, Z = 0.2 and E(B − V) = 0.2; bottom-left panel: 10.25 ≤ log M_∗/M_⊙ < 10.5, 0.306 ≤ z < 0.371, 900-Myr-old SSP with Z = 0.5 and E(B − V) = 0.4; bottom-right panel: 10.75 ≤ log M_∗/M_⊙ < 11, 0.371 ≤ z < 0.436, 11-Gyr-old SSP with Z = 0.2 and E(B − V) = 0.4. The stacked spectra before stellar continuum subtraction and the stellar templates have been shifted up by arbitrary quantities for clarity.