A chromatic aberration or distortion is a disturbance in an optical image in which colors tend to blend together and distort the image. Chromatic aberrations are produced because lenses have a different refractive index or the spot in which a beam of light is focused, for each wavelength of light. Chromatic aberrations can occur anywhere in an image, but are most common around boundaries that separate dark areas from light areas. Chromatic aberrations cause problems for many different sections of the art and photography industry and several techniques challenge them.

How Chromatic Aberrations Work
Chromatic Aberrations result from most lenses being incapable of focusing multiple wavelengths of light on the same focal point. Because wavelengths of light are responsible for colors, chromatic aberrations can seriously distort a colorful image. Chromatic aberrations can also affect black and white images. Although the colors are not effected, the image is slightly blurred and has a very noticeable lack of quality. An example of a chromatic aberration encountered in common photography is the “red eye” effect.

How to Prevent Chromatic Aberrations
Several techniques have been tested in order to prevent chromatic aberrations from occurring. One approach is to use a lens that has been specifically assembled from materials with different amounts of dispersion in order to allow colors to appear in the correct position. These types of lenses are typically made from crown or flint glass. However, this technique does not fully correct chromatic aberrations due to the random displacement of wavelengths. Another technique involves the use of an area of the lens known as “the circle of least confusion” that also helps to minimize chromatic aberrations.

How To Correct Chromatic Aberrations
Although chromatic aberrations are difficult to prevent, they can easily be corrected via digital photo editing software. Such software allows an experienced user to edit individual pixel values to change the overall color spectrum of an entire image. Also, some photo editing software include the capability to automatically account for chromatic aberration and take measures to remove them.