Chromatic aberration, also known as color fringing and or (CA), happens when the colors in an image do not line up perfectly, creating little halos of color (usually purple or green) around objects, especially in high-contrast areas. It can be distracting. In post-processing, chromatic aberration can be corrected using photo editing software. Editing software such as, Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop, have tools specifically designed to reduce or remove these color fringes. These tools work by detecting and adjusting the color edges to align properly, giving the image a cleaner look. Taking a moment to correct chromatic aberration will give your photos a cleaner, more polished look.

The sample image on the left shows purple fringing along the edge of the chrome mirror, while in the image on the right, the fringing appears around the window frame edges.

Tips to Avoid Chromatic Aberration in Photography

• Use Higher-Quality Lenses: Lenses with extra-low dispersion (ED) glass help reduce chromatic aberration by controlling how light is dispersed. ED glass is used in high-quality lenses to keep your images sharper and cleaner.

• Shoot at Narrower Apertures: A higher f-stop (smaller aperture) can reduce color fringing around high-contrast edges.

• Avoid High-Contrast Scenes: Chromatic aberration is more noticeable in scenes in contrast scenes, so be mindful when composing your shots.

• Keep Your Subject Centered: Color fringing is usually worse toward the edges of a photo, so centering your subject can help.

• Correct in Post-Processing: Use tools in editing software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop to easily fix chromatic aberration after shooting.

As always, best of luck!

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