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How to Create a Vignette in Photoshop

The vignette has become one of the most ubiquitous photographic effects. Let’s go step-by-step on creating a vignette in Photoshop.

Essentially, a vignette is a subtle effect used to guide the eye through a shot. It’s achieved by darkening the peripheries of a photo while leaving the center of the image brighter, resulting in a dark space around the subject. Our eyes naturally gravitate to the brighter part of the image.

There are many ways to create and add vignettes to your photos, but for now we will talk about how it’s done with professional editing software. Below, we’ve outlined how to create vignettes in Photoshop. 


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Creating a Vignette in Photoshop

Here we will use the gradient tool and layer functions to create a gradient in photoshop.

  1. Click the “Create a new fill or adjustment layer” button at the bottom of the layers panel. It looks like a circle that is half way shaded.
  2. Select Gradient in the menu that pops up.
  3. Select the third gradient option which is white in the center and transitions to black.
  4. Change the Style to “Radial” in the Gradient Fill Menu
  5. Select the Reverse checkbox in the Gradient Fill Menu
  6. You can increase the scale value in the Gradient Menu to spread the gradient more to the edges
  7. Right Click (cmd+click) the new Gradient Layer in the Layer Menu and select “Multiply”
  8. If the gradient looks too intense you can decrease the Opacity of the Gradient Layer.

When used correctly, a vignette can be used to guide the eye or add a subtle frame to a photo. With the help of editing software like Photoshop, you can create an incredible looking vignette, digitally. 


Cover image via Kaspars Grinvalds

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