E-Mail IMAGE: In tests of the new lenses, the reference lens (left) shows color seams due to chromatic aberrations. The 3D printed achromat lenses (middle) reduced these drastically while images taken with... view more Credit: Michael Schmid, University of Stuttgart WASHINGTON -- In a new study, researchers have shown that 3D printing can be used to make highly precise and complex miniature lenses with sizes of just a few microns. The microlenses can be used to correct color distortion during imaging, enabling small and lightweight cameras that can be designed for a variety of applications. "The ability to 3D print complex micro-optics means that they can be fabricated directly onto many different surfaces such as the CCD or CMOS chips used in digital cameras," said Michael Schmid, a member of the research team from University of Stuttgart in Germany. "The micro-optics can also be printed on the end of optical fibers to create very small medical endoscopes with excellent imaging quality."