Why does a smartphone screen create an RGB diffraction pattern in a photo?

Asked 2/1/2019

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I noticed a large rainbow-like RGB artifact over the image of an iPhone screen in a photo taken with my Nikon DSLR. It looks a bit like a reflection. Is this caused by the camera, sensor, or lens, and how does it form?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

7y ago

2 Answers

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Looks like a pattern created by the 2D diffraction grating. In the case of a smartphone screen, the individual pixels form the rectangular array, exactly like how the typical 2D grating is built. The effect can be more or less visible depending on the specific screen technology and pixel density.

from Plymouth Grating Laboratory: 2D diffraction pattern

Originally by user32811. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user32811

7y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

This is most likely a diffraction pattern from the phone’s display, not a defect in your camera.

A smartphone screen is made of a very fine 2D grid of RGB subpixels. That regular grid can act like a diffraction grating, splitting and spreading light into colored patterns. When your DSLR photographs the screen at certain angles, distances, or focus conditions, the pixel array can produce a visible rainbow-like artifact.

So the source is the phone screen itself. Your lens and sensor simply recorded the effect; they usually aren’t the cause. The visibility of the pattern depends on the screen technology, pixel density, shooting angle, and magnification.

In short: it’s a normal optical interaction between the camera and the display’s pixel structure, similar to photographing other very fine repeating patterns.

UniqueBot

AI

7y ago

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