I agree that the mechanism is in no way similar, but the result of both is a change in the perceived light from it's original form. I was merely making a correlation between the use of chromatic aberration by sci-fi artists with a natural phenomena that causes color shifts on the cosmic("sci-fi") scale.
I understand, it's distorted due to Aurora blottage...Since we're digressing, chromatic aberration is in no way similar to red/blue shifting or any other form of relativistic doppler effect.
Chromatic aberration occurs when a lens is not able to properly focus all visible wavelengths of light to the same point (the camera film or photo sensor). When light travels through a camera lens the following effect happens:
The light enters the prism "in focus". Meaning all of the wavelengths are one beam. However, upon exiting the prism, as you can see, the wavelengths scatter as they all refract at different angles. Higher wavelengths (more purple) refract at a much greater angle than the lower wavelengths (more red)
That's why a camera lens is made of both focusing and correcting lenses. Without a lens to correct the refraction when the photo is taken, chromatic aberration occurs.
Light enters the focusing lens for the purpose of magnifying what you're photographing. However, those same beams of light must then re-refracted through a correcting lens. The spot where the beams of light all converge is the focal point and, as long as all of your lenses are calibrated properly, that point is where you will find either film or the photo sensor.
In terms of the effects artistic usage, I personally have never seen it used so heavily in general sci-fi art. That's not to say that the effect isn't used at all, but generally it is purposefully so subtle as to be almost unnoticeable. It will add a level of photo-realism that you cannot obtain otherwise, but generally when utilizing lens filtering, applying a slight focus blur is more effective than an aberration distortion simply due to the fact that the human brain can easily compute motion blurring, but we aren't able to mentally correct for chromatic aberration. It's one of those things that fall firmly in the uncanny valley. Without it, things seem almost *too* perfect, but too much of it can be distracting. The exception to this would obviously be if the piece was designed with this type of distortion effect in mind.
Wow!Since we're digressing, chromatic aberration is in no way similar to red/blue shifting or any other form of relativistic doppler effect.
Chromatic aberration occurs when a lens is not able to properly focus all visible wavelengths of light to the same point (the camera film or photo sensor). When light travels through a camera lens the following effect happens:
The light enters the prism "in focus". Meaning all of the wavelengths are one beam. However, upon exiting the prism, as you can see, the wavelengths scatter as they all refract at different angles. Higher wavelengths (more purple) refract at a much greater angle than the lower wavelengths (more red)
That's why a camera lens is made of both focusing and correcting lenses. Without a lens to correct the refraction when the photo is taken, chromatic aberration occurs.
Light enters the focusing lens for the purpose of magnifying what you're photographing. However, those same beams of light must then re-refracted through a correcting lens. The spot where the beams of light all converge is the focal point and, as long as all of your lenses are calibrated properly, that point is where you will find either film or the photo sensor.
In terms of the effects artistic usage, I personally have never seen it used so heavily in general sci-fi art. That's not to say that the effect isn't used at all, but generally it is purposefully so subtle as to be almost unnoticeable. It will add a level of photo-realism that you cannot obtain otherwise, but generally when utilizing lens filtering, applying a slight focus blur is more effective than an aberration distortion simply due to the fact that the human brain can easily compute motion blurring, but we aren't able to mentally correct for chromatic aberration. It's one of those things that fall firmly in the uncanny valley. Without it, things seem almost *too* perfect, but too much of it can be distracting. The exception to this would obviously be if the piece was designed with this type of distortion effect in mind.
Aurora blottage, what an elegant phrase
I propose the verb "blomping" to denote the activity of releasing a sufficient quantity of Auroras to significantly impede light from a nearby sun.
Hahaha. Totally loved it but you don't want to register on XPLOR. XD
Anyway I made a quick and dirty thing. It definitely needs some work, but I'm tired so I'll let you guys decide where to take it from here.
I tried registering on the XPLOR forums, but it wouldn't send me a confirmation link. Guess I have to be an affiliate or something to hang out there.
Their leadership thinks we're a big bad trolling pirate organization with the sole intent of ruining as many player's fun as possible?
I knew it! I knew that was only a matter of time. It is the way of things, it seems. The natural order of a TEST-filled universe. Too many good people in this Org, so it's hard to ignore.
