Lenses & focus / Learn by doing
Chromatic Aberration explained simply
What is “Chromatic Aberration”?
Colour fringes caused when a lens does not bring different colours to the same place or focus in exactly the same way.
- 01High contrast edge
- 02Colour fringe
- 03Correct with care
How do you use Chromatic Aberration practically?
A small exercise
Inspect dark branches against a bright sky at full size. Try the editor’s fringe or lens correction and compare carefully.
- Make a starting version and keep it so you can compare fairly.
- Try the change in the exercise. Keep unrelated choices steady where the exercise allows.
- Compare the result at the size your viewer will actually see. Write down what changed and whether it helped.
How does Chromatic Aberration solve a problem?
It helps clean unwanted purple or green edges around high-contrast details.
What can go wrong?
Not every coloured edge is a lens fault. Real coloured light and reflections should not be removed automatically.
How do you turn the idea into a useful solution?
Start with the specific problem in your image or brief, try the exercise, and keep the version that meets that need. If the result is worse, return to the starting version and change one choice at a time.
Quick check: can you explain the three ideas in the diagram?
High contrast edge → Colour fringe → Correct with care. Explain how each relates to the exercise. Then compare the starting version with your result and choose the one that meets your brief.
Related video lesson
Lens basics — Canon
This related lesson gives wider context for the topic. Camera menus and software versions may differ from yours.
Loading the player connects to YouTube. You can also watch the lesson on YouTube.Keep exploring
Try the idea in a studio shoot
Planning a portrait or product session? Use the glossary with our practical shoot guides, then check the studio facilities and send your confirmed requirements with an availability enquiry.