Definition

An undesired change in WAVEFORM. In optics, an aberration affecting the position of the IMAGES off the AXIS, in which objects at different ANGULAR DISTANCES from the AXIS undergo different MAGNIFICATIONS. Also called lens distortion. In PHOTOGRAPHY, any shift in the position of an IMAGE on a PHOTOGRAPH which alters the perspective characteristics of the PHOTOGRAPH. Causes of image distortion include lens aberration, DIFFERENTIAL SHRINKAGE of film or paper, and motion of the film or CAMERA.