Chromatic aberration is an optical defect where different wavelengths refract differently, creating color fringes at high-contrast edges.
Chromatic Aberration
Chromatic aberration is an optical defect in which different wavelengths of light are refracted to different degrees. This leads to visible color fringing at contrast edges in the image.
Types of Chromatic Aberration
Longitudinal CA (LoCA):
- Different colors focus at different distances
- Appears as blurry color fringing in front of and behind the plane of focus
Lateral CA (TCA):
- Different colors are magnified to different degrees
- Appears as a color shift towards the image edge
Correction
- Optical: Apochromatic lenses, ED glass, fluorite elements
- Digital: Profile-based correction in Lightroom, DaVinci Resolve
- Prevention: Stopping down the aperture visibly reduces CA
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