This book provides a comprehensive guide to the principles and practices of optical system design, focusing on practical application and modern techniques. It is based on over 20 years of teaching experience in a professional course, offering readers the latest methods and over 400 diagrams to illustrate key procedures. The text emphasizes working efficiently with computer-aided design, incorporating diffractive optics, and exploring current applications in digital imaging, telecommunications, and machine vision. Complex mathematical derivations are minimized in favor of numerous examples that simplify the learning process.

This resource is presented as a practical, hands-on guide for optical system design, honed through extensive professional teaching. The approach prioritizes clear illustration and understandable examples over complex mathematical theory, suggesting it is aimed at practitioners seeking to improve their efficiency and understanding of modern optical design tools and applications. The inclusion of computer-aided design and diffractive optics indicates a focus on contemporary industry standards and emerging technologies within the field.