Everything you need to know about Chromatic Aberration
Chromatic Aberration simulates the color fringing effect found in camera lenses, where red, green, and blue light separate slightly. This creates a stylized, retro, or cinematic look often seen in film photography, video games, and music videos.
Parameters
- Strength
Controls how much of the effect is blended into the image. At 0, no change is visible. At 1.0, the full chromatic aberration is applied. - Amount
Determines how far the red and blue channels are shifted apart. Higher values create more pronounced color separation. - Radius
Sets how far from the center the effect reaches. At 1.0, the effect covers the entire image. Lower values limit the aberration to the outer edges. - Direction
The angle (in degrees) along which the color channels are shifted. 0° shifts horizontally, 90° shifts vertically. Adjust to match the desired lens distortion direction. - Falloff
Controls how quickly the effect increases from center to edge. Low values create a gradual transition. High values make the effect appear suddenly near the edges. - Apply To
Edges only: Keeps the center sharp, applying aberration only toward the edges (realistic lens behavior). Everywhere: Applies the effect uniformly across the entire image. - Balance
Shifts the color split asymmetrically. Negative values emphasize blue fringing, positive values emphasize red. At 0, the split is symmetrical.
Tips
- Use subtle amounts (0.1–0.3) for realistic vintage lens effects
- Higher amounts work well for glitch art or psychedelic styles
- Combine with vignette for an authentic retro camera look