• 1. The OpticsViewer Tab
  • 1.1. File drop-down
    • 1.1.1. New/Open/Save As
    • 1.1.2. CAD Files
    • 1.1.3. Insert Lens
    • 1.1.4. Scale Lens
  • 1.2. Setup drop-down
    • 1.2.1. System Explorer
      • 1.2.1.1. Aperture (System Explorer)
        • 1.2.1.1.1. Aperture Type
        • 1.2.1.1.2. Aperture Value
        • 1.2.1.1.3. Semi Diameter Margin
      • 1.2.1.2. Fields
      • 1.2.1.3. Wavelengths
        • 1.2.1.3.1. Wavelength Data Editor
      • 1.2.1.4. Material Catalogs
      • 1.2.1.5. Title/Notes
      • 1.2.1.6. Units
      • 1.2.1.7. Cost Estimator (system explorer)
    • 1.2.2. Project Preferences (system group)
      • 1.2.2.1. Address (project preferences)
      • 1.2.2.2. Colors
      • 1.2.2.3. Editors
      • 1.2.2.4. Folders
        • 1.2.2.4.1. File Types by Extension
      • 1.2.2.5. General
      • 1.2.2.6. Graphics (project preferences)
      • 1.2.2.7. Toolbar
      • 1.2.2.8. Shortcut Keys
        • 1.2.2.8.1. Summary of Default Shortcut Keys
      • 1.2.2.9. Message Boxes
      • 1.2.2.10. Privacy
  • 1.3. Data drop-down
    • 1.3.1. Lens Data Editor
      • 1.3.1.1. Data Columns
        • 1.3.1.1.1. Surface Number & Type
        • 1.3.1.1.2. Comment (data columns)
        • 1.3.1.1.3. Radius
        • 1.3.1.1.4. Thickness
        • 1.3.1.1.5. Material
        • 1.3.1.1.6. Clear Semi-Diameter or Semi-Diameter
        • 1.3.1.1.7. Chip Zone
        • 1.3.1.1.8. Mechanical Semi Diameter
        • 1.3.1.1.9. Conic
        • 1.3.1.1.10. TCE
        • 1.3.1.1.11. Other Parameters
      • 1.3.1.2. Sequential Surfaces (lens data editor)
        • 1.3.1.2.1. Summary Table of Sequential Surface Types
        • 1.3.1.2.2. Sequential Surface Types by Category
        • 1.3.1.2.3. ABCD
        • 1.3.1.2.4. Alternate Even
        • 1.3.1.2.5. Alternate Odd
        • 1.3.1.2.6. Atmospheric
        • 1.3.1.2.7. Biconic
        • 1.3.1.2.8. Biconic Zernike
        • 1.3.1.2.9. Binary 1
        • 1.3.1.2.10. Binary 2
        • 1.3.1.2.11. Binary 3
        • 1.3.1.2.12. Binary 4
        • 1.3.1.2.13. Black Box Lens
        • 1.3.1.2.14. Chebyshev Polynomial
        • 1.3.1.2.15. Conjugate
        • 1.3.1.2.16. Coordinate Break
        • 1.3.1.2.17. Cubic Spline
        • 1.3.1.2.18. Cylinder Fresnel
        • 1.3.1.2.19. Data (sequential surfaces, lens data editor)
        • 1.3.1.2.20. Diffraction Grating (sequential surfaces, lens data editor)
        • 1.3.1.2.21. Elliptical Grating 1
        • 1.3.1.2.22. Elliptical Grating 2
        • 1.3.1.2.23. Even Asphere
        • 1.3.1.2.24. Extended Asphere
        • 1.3.1.2.25. Extended Cubic Spline
        • 1.3.1.2.26. Extended Fresnel
        • 1.3.1.2.27. Extended Odd Asphere
        • 1.3.1.2.28. Extended Polynomial
        • 1.3.1.2.29. Fresnel
        • 1.3.1.2.30. Generalized Fresnel
        • 1.3.1.2.31. Gradient 1
        • 1.3.1.2.32. Gradient 2
        • 1.3.1.2.33. Gradient 3
        • 1.3.1.2.34. Gradient 4
        • 1.3.1.2.35. Gradient 5
        • 1.3.1.2.36. Gradient 6
        • 1.3.1.2.37. Gradient 7
        • 1.3.1.2.38. GRADIUM™
        • 1.3.1.2.39. Gradient 9
        • 1.3.1.2.40. Gradient 10
        • 1.3.1.2.41. Gradient 12
        • 1.3.1.2.42. Grid Gradient
        • 1.3.1.2.43. Grid Phase
        • 1.3.1.2.44. Grid Sag
        • 1.3.1.2.45. Hologram 1
        • 1.3.1.2.46. Hologram 2
        • 1.3.1.2.47. Irregular
        • 1.3.1.2.48. Jones Matrix (sequential surfaces, lens data editor)
        • 1.3.1.2.49. Odd Asphere
        • 1.3.1.2.50. Off-Axis Conic Freeform
        • 1.3.1.2.51. Paraxial (sequential surfaces, lens data editor)
        • 1.3.1.2.52. Paraxial XY
        • 1.3.1.2.53. Periodic
        • 1.3.1.2.54. Polynomial
        • 1.3.1.2.55. Q-Type Asphere (sequential surfaces, lens data editor)
        • 1.3.1.2.56. Q-Type Freeform
        • 1.3.1.2.57. Retro Reflect
        • 1.3.1.2.58. Standard
        • 1.3.1.2.59. Superconic
        • 1.3.1.2.60. Tilted
        • 1.3.1.2.61. Toroidal
        • 1.3.1.2.62. Toroidal Grating
        • 1.3.1.2.63. Toroidal Hologram (sequential surfaces, lens data editor)
        • 1.3.1.2.64. Variable Line Space Grating
        • 1.3.1.2.65. Zernike Fringe Phase
        • 1.3.1.2.66. Zernike Fringe Sag
        • 1.3.1.2.67. Zernike Standard Phase
        • 1.3.1.2.68. Zernike Standard Sag
        • 1.3.1.2.69. Zernike Annular Phase
          • 1.3.1.2.69.1. Zernike Annular Phase Coefficients Sign Conventions
        • 1.3.1.2.70. Zernike Annular Standard Sag
        • 1.3.1.2.71. Zone Plate
      • 1.3.1.3. Surface Properties
        • 1.3.1.3.1. Type (surface properties)
        • 1.3.1.3.2. Draw (surface properties)
        • 1.3.1.3.3. Aperture (surface properties)
          • 1.3.1.3.3.1. User Defined Apertures and Obscurations
        • 1.3.1.3.4. Tilt/Decenter
        • 1.3.1.3.5. Coating
        • 1.3.1.3.6. Import
      • 1.3.1.4. Solve Types (lens data editor)
        • 1.3.1.4.1. Summary of Solves
        • 1.3.1.4.2. Curvature Solves
        • 1.3.1.4.3. Thickness Solves
        • 1.3.1.4.4. Material Solves
        • 1.3.1.4.5. Clear Semi-Diameter or Semi-Diameter Solves
        • 1.3.1.4.6. Conic Solves
        • 1.3.1.4.7. TCE Solve
        • 1.3.1.4.8. Parameter Solves
        • 1.3.1.4.9. Restrictions
      • 1.3.1.5. Lens Data Editor Toolbar
        • 1.3.1.5.1. Auto Update Mode
        • 1.3.1.5.2. Reload Surface
        • 1.3.1.5.3. Reload All Surfaces
        • 1.3.1.5.4. Tilt/Decenter Elements
        • 1.3.1.5.5. Go to Surface
        • 1.3.1.5.6. Toggle Express View (lens data editor toolbar)
        • 1.3.1.5.7. Reset Column Order (lens data editor toolbar)
        • 1.3.1.5.8. Reset Column Widths (lens data editor toolbar)
        • 1.3.1.5.9. Automatic Width
        • 1.3.1.5.10. Help (lens data editor toolbar)
    • 1.3.2. Tolerance Data Editor
      • 1.3.2.1. Tolerance Operands
        • 1.3.2.1.1. Tolerance Operands Summary Table
        • 1.3.2.1.2. TRAD: Tolerance on Radius
        • 1.3.2.1.3. TCUR: Tolerance on Curvature
        • 1.3.2.1.4. TFRN: Tolerance on Fringes
        • 1.3.2.1.5. TTHI: Tolerance on Thickness
        • 1.3.2.1.6. TCON: Tolerance on Conic
        • 1.3.2.1.7. TSDI: Tolerance on Clear Semi-Diameter or Semi-Diameter
        • 1.3.2.1.8. TSDX, TSDY, TSDR: Tolerance on Surface Decenters
        • 1.3.2.1.9. TSTX, TSTY: Tolerance on Surface Tilts
        • 1.3.2.1.10. TIRX, TIRY: Tolerance on Surface TIR
        • 1.3.2.1.11. TIRR: Tolerance on Surface Irregularity
        • 1.3.2.1.12. TEXI: Tolerance on Surface Irregularity Using the Fringe Zernike Model
        • 1.3.2.1.13. TEZI: Tolerance on Surface Irregularity Using the Standard Zernike Model
        • 1.3.2.1.14. TPAI: Tolerance on the Inverse of Parameter Data
        • 1.3.2.1.15. TPAR: Tolerance on Parameter Data
        • 1.3.2.1.16. TIND: Tolerance on Index
        • 1.3.2.1.17. TABB: Tolerance on Abbe
        • 1.3.2.1.18. TCMU: Tolerance on Coating Multiplier
        • 1.3.2.1.19. TCIO: Tolerance on Coating Index Offset
        • 1.3.2.1.20. TCEO: Tolerance on Coating Extinction Offset
        • 1.3.2.1.21. TEDX, TEDY, TEDR: Tolerance on Element Decenters
        • 1.3.2.1.22. TETX, TETY, TETZ: Tolerance on Element Tilts
        • 1.3.2.1.23. TOFF: Tolerance Off (can be used for comments)
        • 1.3.2.1.24. TUDX, TUDY, TUTX, TUTY, TUTZ: Tolerance on User Defined Tilts & Decenters
        • 1.3.2.1.25. TMCO: Tolerance on Multi-Configuration Data
      • 1.3.2.2. Tolerance Control Operands
        • 1.3.2.2.1. Tolerance Control Operands Summary Table
        • 1.3.2.2.2. General Comments About Min & Max Values on Compensators
        • 1.3.2.2.3. CMCO: Define Multi-Configuration Operand Compensator
        • 1.3.2.2.4. CNPA: Define Non-sequential Parameter Compensator
        • 1.3.2.2.5. CNPS: Define Non-sequential Position Compensator
        • 1.3.2.2.6. CPAR: Define Parameter Compensator
        • 1.3.2.2.7. SEED: Seed the Random Number Generator
        • 1.3.2.2.8. STAT: Define Statistics
        • 1.3.2.2.9. TWAV: Test Wavelength
      • 1.3.2.3. Operand Properties (tolerance data editor)
      • 1.3.2.4. Tolerance Data Editor Toolbar
    • 1.3.3. Merit Function Editor
      • 1.3.3.1. Optimization Operands Summary
        • 1.3.3.1.1. Optimization Operands Summary Table
      • 1.3.3.2. Optimization Operands by Category
        • 1.3.3.2.1. First-Order Optical Properties
        • 1.3.3.2.2. Aberrations (optimization operands by category)
        • 1.3.3.2.3. MTF Data
        • 1.3.3.2.4. PSF/Strehl Ratio Data
        • 1.3.3.2.5. Encircled Energy (optimization operands by category)
        • 1.3.3.2.6. Constraints on Lens Data
        • 1.3.3.2.7. Constraints on Lens Properties
        • 1.3.3.2.8. Constraints on Parameter Data
        • 1.3.3.2.9. Constraints on Glass Data
        • 1.3.3.2.10. Constraints on Paraxial Ray Data
        • 1.3.3.2.11. Constraints on Real Ray Data
        • 1.3.3.2.12. Constraints on Element Positions
        • 1.3.3.2.13. Changing System Data
        • 1.3.3.2.14. General Math Operands
        • 1.3.3.2.15. Multi-Configuration (Zoom) Data
        • 1.3.3.2.16. Gaussian Beam Data
        • 1.3.3.2.17. Gradient Index Control Operands
        • 1.3.3.2.18. Foucault Analysis (optimization operands by category)
        • 1.3.3.2.19. Ghost Focus Control
        • 1.3.3.2.20. Fiber Coupling Operands
        • 1.3.3.2.21. Relative Illumination Operand
        • 1.3.3.2.22. Optimization with ZPL Macros
        • 1.3.3.2.23. User defined operands (optimization operands by category)
        • 1.3.3.2.24. Merit Function Control Operands
        • 1.3.3.2.25. Constraints on Construction Optics for Optically Fabricated Holograms
        • 1.3.3.2.26. Constraints on Optical Coatings, Polarization Ray Trace Data
        • 1.3.3.2.27. Physical Optics Propagation (POP) Results
        • 1.3.3.2.28. Best Fit Sphere Data
        • 1.3.3.2.29. Tolerance Sensitivity Data
        • 1.3.3.2.30. Thermal Coefficient of Expansion Data
        • 1.3.3.2.31. Obsolete Operands
      • 1.3.3.3. Optimization Operands (Alphabetically)
      • 1.3.3.4. Merit Function Editor Toolbar
    • 1.3.4. Multiple Configuration Editor
      • 1.3.4.1. Multi-Configuration Operands
        • 1.3.4.1.1. Comment About Operands that Define Character Strings
      • 1.3.4.2. Operand Properties (multiple configuration editor)
      • 1.3.4.3. Menu Options
      • 1.3.4.4. Solve Types (multiple configuration editor)
      • 1.3.4.5. Multi-Configuration Editor Toolbar
        • 1.3.4.5.1. Insert Configuration
        • 1.3.4.5.2. Insert Configuration with Pickups
        • 1.3.4.5.3. Delete Configuration
        • 1.3.4.5.4. Make Single Configuration
        • 1.3.4.5.5. Add All Data
        • 1.3.4.5.6. Go to Operand
        • 1.3.4.5.7. Toggle Express View (MCE Toolbar)
        • 1.3.4.5.8. Reset Column Order (multi-configuration editor toolbar)
        • 1.3.4.5.9. Reset Column Widths (multi-configuration editor toolbar)
        • 1.3.4.5.10. Help (multi-configuration editor toolbar)
      • 1.3.4.6. Using Multiple Configurations
        • 1.3.4.6.1. The First Step
        • 1.3.4.6.2. Defining the Number of Configurations
        • 1.3.4.6.3. Defining Each Configuration
        • 1.3.4.6.4. Ignoring Surfaces
        • 1.3.4.6.5. Changing Configurations
    • 1.3.5. Field Data Editor
      • 1.3.5.1. Field Plot
      • 1.3.5.2. Current Field
      • 1.3.5.3. Field Data Editor Toolbar
      • 1.3.5.4. Defining Wide-Angle Fields
    • 1.3.6. Using the Editors
      • 1.3.6.1. Editor Windows Operations
      • 1.3.6.2. Undo, Redo, and Recover
      • 1.3.6.3. Express View
  • 1.4. Analyze drop-down
    • 1.4.1. 3D Viewer
    • 1.4.2. Shaded Model
    • 1.4.3. FFT MTF
    • 1.4.4. FFT PSF
    • 1.4.5. Field Curvature and Distortion
    • 1.4.6. Footprint Diagram
    • 1.4.7. Huygens MTF
    • 1.4.8. Image Simulation
    • 1.4.9. Interferogram
    • 1.4.10. Optical Path Difference
    • 1.4.11. Ray Aberration
    • 1.4.12. Standard Spot Diagram
    • 1.4.13. Surface Sag
    • 1.4.14. Universal Plot 1-D
    • 1.4.15. Universal Plot 2-D
    • 1.4.16. Wavefront Map
    • 1.4.17. Zernike Fringe Coefficients
    • 1.4.18. Toolbar Button Functions
  • 1.5. Adjust drop-down
    • 1.5.1. Quick Focus
    • 1.5.2. Slider
  • 1.6. Manufacture drop-down
    • 1.6.1. ISO Element Drawing
      • 1.6.1.1. Cost Estimator (ISO Element Drawing)
        • 1.6.1.1.1. Cost Estimates Tab
    • 1.6.2. Cost Estimator
      • 1.6.2.1. Optimax® Error Codes
    • 1.6.3. Design Lockdown
    • 1.6.4. Tolerance Summary
  • 1.7. Catalogs drop-down
    • 1.7.1. Materials Catalog
      • 1.7.1.1. Using Material Catalogs
        • 1.7.1.1.1. Specifying Which Glass Catalogs to Use
        • 1.7.1.1.2. Editing & Reviewing Glass Catalogs
        • 1.7.1.1.3. Description of Catalog Data
        • 1.7.1.1.4. Creating a New Catalog
        • 1.7.1.1.5. Copying or Moving Glass Catalog Files
        • 1.7.1.1.6. The Glass Dispersion Formulas
          • 1.7.1.1.6.1. The Schott Formula
          • 1.7.1.1.6.2. The Sellmeier 1 Formula
          • 1.7.1.1.6.3. The Sellmeier 2 Formula
          • 1.7.1.1.6.4. The Sellmeier 3 Formula
          • 1.7.1.1.6.5. The Sellmeier 4 Formula
          • 1.7.1.1.6.6. The Sellmeier 5 Formula
          • 1.7.1.1.6.7. The Herzberger Formula
          • 1.7.1.1.6.8. The Conrady Formula
          • 1.7.1.1.6.9. The Handbook of Optics 1 Formula
          • 1.7.1.1.6.10. The Handbook of Optics 2 Formula
          • 1.7.1.1.6.11. The Extended Formula
          • 1.7.1.1.6.12. The Extended 2 Formula
          • 1.7.1.1.6.13. The Extended 3 Formula
          • 1.7.1.1.6.14. General Comments on Using Dispersion Formulas
        • 1.7.1.1.7. Fitting Index Data
        • 1.7.1.1.8. Fitting Melt Data
        • 1.7.1.1.9. Defining Transmission Data
        • 1.7.1.1.10. Modeling Gases and Liquids (using material catalogs)
        • 1.7.1.1.11. Finding a Glass Quickly
        • 1.7.1.1.12. Glass Catalog Sources
        • 1.7.1.1.13. Obsolete Catalog Data
        • 1.7.1.1.14. The AGF & BGF File Formats
        • 1.7.1.1.15. Alternate Methods of Defining Dispersion Data
          • 1.7.1.1.15.1. Using MIL Number Glasses
          • 1.7.1.1.15.2. Using Table Glasses
          • 1.7.1.1.15.3. Using Model Glasses
    • 1.7.2. Lens Catalogs
      • 1.7.2.1. Prescription Data
    • 1.7.3. Test Plate Lists
    • 1.7.4. Coating Catalog
      • 1.7.4.1. Defining Coatings
        • 1.7.4.1.1. Editing the Coating File
        • 1.7.4.1.2. Coating File Data Syntax
        • 1.7.4.1.3. The MATE Data Section
        • 1.7.4.1.4. The TAPR Data Section
        • 1.7.4.1.5. The COAT Data Section
        • 1.7.4.1.6. Defining Replicated Groups of Coating Layers
        • 1.7.4.1.7. Defining Simple Ideal Coatings
        • 1.7.4.1.8. The ENCRYPTED Data Section
        • 1.7.4.1.9. The IDEAL Data Section
        • 1.7.4.1.10. The IDEAL2 Data Section
        • 1.7.4.1.11. The TABLE Data Section
        • 1.7.4.1.12. Adding Comments to the Coating File
        • 1.7.4.1.13. Limits on the Amount of Coating Data
      • 1.7.4.2. About Coatings
        • 1.7.4.2.1. Default Materials & Coatings Supplied with
        • 1.7.4.2.2. Specifying Coatings on Surfaces
        • 1.7.4.2.3. Coatings as Etalons
        • 1.7.4.2.4. Properties of Uncoated Surfaces
  • 1.8. Help drop-down
    • 1.8.1. About
    • 1.8.2. License Agreement
    • 1.8.3. License Manager
      • 1.8.3.1. Launch Sentinel Admin Control Center
      • 1.8.3.2. Network License
      • 1.8.3.3. Send License
      • 1.8.3.4. Receive License
      • 1.8.3.5. Troubleshoot
    • 1.8.4. Help
    • 1.8.5. Help PDF
    • 1.8.6. Welcome to OpticsViewer
    • 1.8.7. Zemax Community
  • 1.9. Search Bar
• 2. Conventions and Definitions
  • 2.1. Active Configuration
  • 2.2. Angular Magnification
  • 2.3. Apodization
  • 2.4. Back Focal Length
  • 2.5. Cardinal Planes
  • 2.6. Chief Ray
  • 2.7. Coordinate Axes
  • 2.8. Diffraction Limited
  • 2.9. Edge Thickness
  • 2.10. Effective Focal Length
  • 2.11. Entrance Pupil Diameter
  • 2.12. Entrance Pupil Position
  • 2.13. Exit Pupil Diameter
  • 2.14. Exit Pupil Position
  • 2.15. Field Angles and Heights
  • 2.16. Float by Stop Size
  • 2.17. Ghost Reflections
  • 2.18. Glasses
  • 2.19. Hexapolar Rings
  • 2.20. Image Space F/#
  • 2.21. Image Space Numerical Aperture (NA)
  • 2.22. Lens Units
  • 2.23. Marginal Ray
  • 2.24. Maximum Field
  • 2.25. Mixed Mode
  • 2.26. Native Object
  • 2.27. Non-Paraxial Systems
  • 2.28. Non-sequential Ray Tracing
  • 2.29. Normalized Field Coordinates
  • 2.30. Normalized Pupil Coordinates
  • 2.31. NSC
  • 2.32. Object Space Numerical Aperture
  • 2.33. OpticStudio Error Codes
  • 2.34. Parameter Data
  • 2.35. Paraxial and Parabasal Rays
  • 2.36. Paraxial Image Height
  • 2.37. Paraxial Magnification
  • 2.38. Paraxial Working F/#
  • 2.39. Primary Wavelength
  • 2.40. Radii
  • 2.41. Real propagation
  • 2.42. Sagittal and Tangential
  • 2.43. Semi-Diameters
  • 2.44. Sequential Ray Tracing
  • 2.45. Special Characters
  • 2.46. Strehl Ratio
  • 2.47. Surface Apertures
  • 2.48. System Aperture
  • 2.49. Thicknesses
  • 2.50. Total Internal Reflection (TIR)
  • 2.51. Total Track
  • 2.52. Vignetting Factors
  • 2.53. Virtual Propagation
  • 2.54. Wavelength Data
  • 2.55. Working F/#