---
title: "Lens Distortion"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/r3d/maya/en-us/Content/html/Lens%2BDistortion.html"
section_path: "Cameras > Lens Distortion"
description: "In Redshift 2027 and later, please use the Redshift Camera Effects for lens distortion settings."
---

# Lens Distortion

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# Lens Distortion

> **Note:** In Redshift 2027 and later, please use the [Redshift Camera Effects](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/maya/en-us/Content/html/Redshift_Camera_Object.html.md) for lens distortion settings.

## Introduction

The "Lens Distortion" lens shader allows the rendered image to be distorted via a "UV Map" image.

Due to their lens geometry, real-life cameras tend to distort the captured images. If the user needs to add CG elements to real-life (distorted) camera footage, the CG elements will also have to be distorted.

UV Maps can be generated in programs like Nuke and have the characteristic green/red gradient look.

![Image: worddavc7f1c1d709ac7771fb6ff8a0513f92a93288.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/maya/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/worddavc7f1c1d709ac7771fb6ff8a0513f92a93288.png)

*An example UV Map*

## How To Use

You can enable lens distortion via the "Redshift Lens Distortion" lens shader as shown below.

![Image: worddav3c80abbe20216708da3dffe4321f7ab0f135.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/maya/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/worddav3c80abbe20216708da3dffe4321f7ab0f135.png)

*On the camera's Redshift properties, click the checkerboard icon next to "Lens Shaders". Then from the list that appears, select RedshiftLensDistortion*

![Image: image2017-3-26 17_23_33ac29.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/maya/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/image2017-3-26%2017_23_33ac29.png)

Once the Lens Distortion lens shader is created, all you have to do is set the distortion image (UV Map) and render.

## Lens Distortion Examples

Below are several examples of different lens distortions, each with their appropriate UV distortion maps and an example output image.

|  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ![Image: image2017-6-30_17-13-2cdf0.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/maya/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Thumbnails/image2017-6-30_17-13-2cdf0.png) | ![Image: image2017-6-30_17-54-3a3db.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/maya/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Thumbnails/image2017-6-30_17-54-3a3db.png) | ![Image: image2017-6-30_17-56-261505.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/maya/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Thumbnails/image2017-6-30_17-56-261505.png) |
| *Neutral UV Distortion Image* | *UV Grid Result* | *Image Result* |

|  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ![Image: image2017-6-30_18-7-57a3cb.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/maya/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Thumbnails/image2017-6-30_18-7-57a3cb.png) | ![Image: image2017-6-30_18-8-9b127.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/maya/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Thumbnails/image2017-6-30_18-8-9b127.png) | ![Image: image2017-6-30_18-16-44c0a0.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/maya/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Thumbnails/image2017-6-30_18-16-44c0a0.png) |
| *UV Distortion Image* | *UV Grid Result* | *Image Result* |

|  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ![Image: image2017-6-30_18-9-282bf9.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/maya/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Thumbnails/image2017-6-30_18-9-282bf9.png) | ![Image: image2017-6-30_18-9-43f9d2.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/maya/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Thumbnails/image2017-6-30_18-9-43f9d2.png) | ![Image: image2017-6-30_18-17-18a6bc.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/maya/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Thumbnails/image2017-6-30_18-17-18a6bc.png) |
| *UV Distortion Image* | *UV Grid Result* | *Image Result* |

|  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ![Image: image2017-6-30_18-10-247050.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/maya/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Thumbnails/image2017-6-30_18-10-247050.png) | ![Image: image2017-6-30_18-11-35ac55.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/maya/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Thumbnails/image2017-6-30_18-11-35ac55.png) | ![Image: image2017-6-30_18-17-56edfd.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/maya/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Thumbnails/image2017-6-30_18-17-56edfd.png) |
| *UV Distortion Image* | *UV Grid Result* | *Image Result* |