kromatismin

Chromatism, or kromatismin in Finnish, is a term used across disciplines to denote phenomena related to color or color changes. Etymologically, it derives from Greek chroma meaning color and the suffix -ism, reflecting its root in describes of color phenomena.

In optics, chromatism commonly refers to chromatic aberration and dispersion: the dependence of light's refraction on wavelength, which can produce color fringes, blur, or color shifts in lenses and imaging systems. It is mitigated by achromatic and apochromatic lens designs, by using glasses with tailored dispersion, and by computational corrections in imaging pipelines.

In music theory, chromaticism denotes the use of notes outside the standard diatonic scale. It enriches harmony and melody by introducing semitones that do not belong to the prevailing key. Chromatic tendencies emerged in the late Romantic period and have remained a feature in many genres, often creating color and tension beyond tonal harmony.

In biology and related fields, chromatism describes color variation within populations or individuals, such as seasonal or developmental color changes or color polymorphisms that affect camouflage, signaling, or mate selection. The term is used to discuss how color variation relates to ecology and evolution.

The term is primarily applied with context to optics, music, or biology. Related concepts include chromatic aberration, chromatic dispersion, chromatic scale, and chromaticism in music theory.