The Lens Corrections tools applies optical corrections derived from the lens used to capture the photo. It lives inside the Input layer — the first layer in the Image Stack. Expand the Input layer to reveal the Lens Corrections group.

Lens corrections apply to RAW images only. On JPEG and other display-domain images Aphera skips the lens stage.

The controls shown depend on the correction data available for the photo:

  • Embedded — the RAW file holds the camera manufacturer’s own correction data. See Embedded.
  • DNG — the RAW file has embedded DNG correction data. See DNG.
  • Lensfun — a matching profile is found in the Lensfun database. See Lensfun.
  • None — no correction data is found. The group shows the message No lens correction data was found for this image.

When a photo has more than one kind of correction data, Aphera uses the first available of Embedded, DNG, Lensfun. It skips data that would change the image by less than half a percent and moves to the next kind.

Aphera reads correction data at import. Photos keep the correction they came in with. Re-import to pick up data a later version can read.

Embedded

Shown when the RAW file holds the manufacturer’s own correction data. Sony, Fujifilm, and Olympus record it; other manufacturers do not. The group is labeled Manufacturer-embedded correction and provides two toggles, both on by default:

  • Distortion Correction — corrects geometric distortion introduced by the lens, and chromatic aberration along with it. There is no separate toggle.
  • Vignette Correction — corrects vignetting (light falloff toward the edges of the frame).

Distortion correction rescales the frame, so turning it off changes the framing.

DNG

Shown when the RAW file has embedded DNG correction instructions. The group provides a single toggle:

  • DNG Corrections — applies the lens corrections embedded in the file.

Lensfun

Lensfun is an open database of camera lens profiles. Aphera does not bundle this data; you install and manage it from Settings. When a matching profile is found for a photo, the Input layer’s Lens Corrections group shows the identified lens and the correction toggles.

Installing and Updating Lensfun Data

Install and manage Lensfun data in Settings, under Lens Corrections. Aphera does not bundle it. Until you install it, no Lensfun profiles are available for matching.

  • Install Lensfun Data — downloads the profile data (XML files) from GitHub and stores it in Application Support.
  • Advanced — a menu with two actions:
    • Show in Finder — reveals the installed files in the Finder.
    • Reload Files — re-reads the files, installing any changes you have made.

To add additional lens profiles, modify existing ones, or update to a newer version of Lensfun Data, open the files with Show in Finder, edit them, then choose Reload Files.

Aphera matches lens corrections to images during import. Re-import affected photos after installing or updating Lensfun data for the changes to take effect.

Corrections

When a matching profile is found, the identified lens make and model appear at the top of the Lens Corrections group. When the lens cannot be identified, the group shows Lens details were not found.

The group provides two toggles:

  • Distortion Correction — corrects geometric distortion introduced by the lens.
  • Vignette Correction — corrects vignetting (light falloff toward the edges of the frame).

Copying Between Photos

Paste Adjustments treats the Lens Corrections on/off state as its own unit — it is included by default, and has no separate toggle in the Select Adjustments picker (see Operations). The corrections themselves come from each photo’s own lens and resolve per image; they do not copy between photos.