especially digital cameras, the distance between the lens and the built-in flash has decreased, thereby decreasing the angle of light reflection to the lens and increasing the likelihood of light reflection off normally sub-visible particles. Hence, the orb artifact is commonplace with small digital or film camera photographs. See also Forward scattering Scattering Backscatter X-ray (in security scanning applications, e.g. at airports) Backscatter (email) References Scattering, absorption and radiative transfer (optics)