Spatial trends in A_V and R₅₄₉₅ in the core of R136. Panels a and b show maps of A₅₄₉₅ and R₅₄₉₅ overplotted on HST/WFC3 V-band (F555W) photometry (O’Connell 2010). The colour of each hexagon corresponds to the average value of the quantity in that region of the core, with red tints corresponding to higher values of A₅₄₉₅ and R₅₄₉₅ and the yellow tints to lower values. A clear spatial trend is visible for A₅₄₉₅, with higher values of A₅₄₉₅ towards the east of the cluster (see also Fig. 8). A similar, albeit weaker trend is visible for R₅₄₉₅. Panel c shows that there is a strong correlation between A₅₄₉₅ and R₅₄₉₅ (colours as in Fig. 5). The dotted lines in the background indicate constant values of A₄₄₀₅ – A₅₄₉₅ ranging from 0.2 to 0.8; the obtained relation implies A₄₄₀₅ – A₅₄₉₅ ≈ 0.4.