Chromatic Aberration

Here are the 3 most commonly asked questions regarding this not-so-fun editing dilemma with a super fun name!

What is chromatic aberration?

Chromatic aberration (also referred to as color fringing) is color distortion that happens in images and manifests as an outline of colors (blue-yellow, red-green, or magenta-purple) along the edges of some elements of a photograph.

Where does this term come from?
Chromatic is defined as “relating to or produced by color”
Aberration is defined as a “departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome”
Relating to optics, this is defined as “the failure of rays to converge at one focus because of limitations or defects in a lens or mirror.”

Chromatic aberration is a lens issue.
Lenses have limitations, and color fringing is caused by some lens’ inability to focus each hue on the same focal plane. Here’s a visual of what that means!

chromatic aberration graphic by Adobe

How can I avoid chromatic aberration in my photos?

High-quality glass will make all the difference so investing in a good lens is my first suggestion.
If you’re unable to upgrade your gear, there are other tricks to help minimize fringing:

Avoid wide-angle lenses
Avoid high-contrast scenarios
Close your aperture

How can I fix chromatic aberration in Lightroom?

Adobe Lightroom Classic has a really easy-to-use tool for removing chromatic aberration in most photographs.
In the Develop module, scroll down to Lens Corrections and check the “Remove Chromatic Aberration” box under Profile. Sometimes, this doesn’t work and you’ll have to go to the Manual panel and adjust the individual color sliders yourself.