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pincushion distortion
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Diagram showing two types of optical distortion: barrel distortion on the left, where grid lines bulge outward, and pincushion distortion on the right, where grid lines curve inward.
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pincushion distortion

optics
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Diagram showing two types of optical distortion: barrel distortion on the left, where grid lines bulge outward, and pincushion distortion on the right, where grid lines curve inward.
two types of distortion Two common types of distortion. In barrel distortion (left), magnification decreases with distance from the centre of the image; in pincushion distortion (right), magnification increases with distance.

Pincushion distortion is a type of optical distortion where the image of a straight line appears to curve inward, toward the center of the image. This is the opposite of barrel distortion, where straight lines appear to curve outward. This effect can occur in optical instruments and television receivers.12

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