Chromatic aberration (CA) is an optical phenomenon where a lens fails to focus all colors of light to the same convergence point. This results in color fringing—typically red/cyan or blue/yellow edges—around high-contrast areas in an image. It occurs because different wavelengths of light refract at slightly different angles when passing through lens elements. Our tool lets you simulate and control this effect digitally for creative or corrective purposes.

Radial mode mimics real lens behavior—chromatic aberration is minimal at the image center and increases toward the edges, creating a natural, authentic lens distortion look. Uniform mode applies the same offset to every pixel regardless of position, producing a stylistic glitch or vintage camera effect ideal for creative projects, album art, or social media visuals.

Center Protection defines a circular zone around the image center where no chromatic aberration is applied. The effect gradually ramps up from the edge of this zone to the image corners. This simulates how high-quality lenses exhibit CA primarily in the periphery. Increasing this value keeps your subject (usually centered) sharp while allowing subtle color fringing in the background.

Yes! This chromatic aberration tool is 100% free and runs entirely in your browser. No uploads to any server—all image processing happens locally on your device using the HTML5 Canvas API. Your images remain private and never leave your computer. You can use it unlimited times without registration or watermarks.

You can upload JPG, PNG, WebP, and most common image formats. The tool outputs PNG format for download, preserving full transparency if your original image has it. For best results, use high-resolution images—the effect looks more natural when there are enough pixels for smooth color channel separation.

Unlike basic filters that apply a fixed overlay, our tool gives you pixel-level control over intensity, angle, radial falloff, and center protection. You can achieve everything from subtle cinematic lens simulation to extreme glitch-art effects. The real-time preview and non-destructive workflow let you experiment freely before downloading the final result.

Real chromatic aberration is caused by dispersion—the refractive index of lens glass varies with wavelength. Shorter wavelengths (blue/violet) bend more than longer wavelengths (red). In a simple lens, this means different colors focus at slightly different distances from the lens, creating visible color fringing. Modern lenses use achromatic doublets (combining crown and flint glass) and apochromatic designs with special low-dispersion elements to minimize this.