What is chromatic aberration?

Composition
Written By Bobby Parker

Almost every photo has a situation in which a colored halo (usually purple, green or red) is apparent around certain elements of a scene. This sort of optic anomaly, more commonly known as color fringing, is known as chromatic aberration. We, as photo real computer illustrators, can use this effect to help us fake reality. Chromatic aberration is an optical phenomenon in which the camera lens is unable to focus the different wavelengths of light on the same plane (in this case the image sensor) in order to produce a correct image, resulting in a halo or fringe around objects.

  • After opening your image in Photoshop, go to Filter -> Distort -> Lens Correction…
  • On the right side panel you should find a set of controls named Chromatic Aberration
  • Depending on your image, you should adjusting the sliders. To do this in an optimal way make sure you are viewing the image at a magnification of 100% or more.
  • You might have to move only one or both sliders: it all depends on the image you’re dealing with.

Caution! use sparingly, it is suppose to be very subtle, if done correctly.

Bobby Parker
Hey there, thanks for visiting my online portfolio. My name is Bobby Parker and I’m a Minnesota based illustrator who specializes in photo-real architectural renderings, and I’m not afraid to turn my hand to animation if the job requires it. While growing up in Illinios I always had a childhood interest in drawing and artwork that has stayed with me throughout my career in architecture. I received my architectural education working for some of the most talented architects in Chicago. I’ve worked on a wide range of projects, and pride myself on the ability to deliver a valuable and visually-appealing end product, no matter what the scope. For me, it’s essential to achieve a balance between quality and speed. 24 years after working professionally, I am still combining the fundamentals of art with the most current industry technology, to create incredibly realistic 3D architectural renderings. I love what I do, and I hope that it shows in my portfolio. Please take a minute to visit my work page and drop me a message if you have any questions
www.bobby-parker.com
Previous

Art Appreciation