Do you want to create a vignette by your own? No problem! There’s the ‘Photoshop Vignette Plugin’ – a vignette filter that lets you create different vignette effects with just a couple of clicks. This tutorial will show you step-by-step how to add a vignette filter in Photoshop. Plus, you’ll get a FREE Photoshop Vignette Action Download!
What is the vignette in Photoshop?
A vignette darkens (or lightens) the corners and edges of a photo in order to draw the viewer’s attention to the main subject. A Photoshop vignette can be round or square.
If you don’t want to create a vignette effect manually, you can use the Photoshop vignette filter. Even though the vignette filter is not an actual filter by its own, you’ll find a vignette option in the Lens Correction Filter. Moving two sliders is all that it takes to create a vignette – it’s quick and easy.
So the Lens Correction Filter is Photoshop’s vignette plugin, if you will. In this tutorial, I’ll be showing you how to add a vignette filter in Photoshop CS 6. But it also works for all subsequent Photoshop versions as well.
If you don’t have Photoshop yet, you can start a FREE 7-day Photoshop trial here. If you are a student or a teacher, you can claim your 60% Photoshop discount here.
Get your FREE Premade Photoshop vignette Plugin
…and there’s still a goodie waiting for you! I have a FREE Premade Photoshop Vignette Plugin that you can download in the Freebie Library! It includes a Photoshop vignette action and 2 transparent vignettes on PNG files.
But now, let’s get started with this tutorial on how to add a vignette filter in Photoshop. Have a look at the Before & After image comparison below to see what exactly we’re going to do.
- Move the slider to see the full Before & After images
The image is ‘Road to Nowhere’ from my Nature & Macro Collection.
How do I add a vignette filter in Photoshop?
To add a vignette filter in Photoshop, these are the five steps you'll need to follow:
How to add a vignette filter in Photoshop
STEP 1: Open your image in Photoshop
First of all, open the image you want to add a vignette filter to in your Photoshop application.
In this tutorial, I’ll be using my image ‘Road to Nowhere‘ from my Nature & Macro Collection to show you how to add a vignette filter in Photoshop.
Right here you can see what the photo looks like WITHOUT a vignette.
STEP 2: Duplicate the background layer
Once you open a new photo in Photoshop, it automatically becomes the background layer.
In the second step, we’re now going to duplicate that background layer. Why duplicate it? Two reasons. First of all, this preserves the original photo – just in case anything goes wrong.
Second, you have more options to tweak the end result. For example, you can change Opacity, Fill, or Blending Mode of the background copy. This allows you to create different effects and adjust everything according to your very personal taste!
→ How To Use Blending Modes In Photoshop – (With Blend Modes Cheat Sheet!)
There are three ways to duplicate a background layer. First, you can select Layer > Duplicate Layer from the top menu bar.
Second, you can right-click on the layer name in your Layers Panel and select Duplicate Layer from the popup menu.
Third, you can drag-and-drop the background layer on the ‘Create new layer‘ icon at the bottom of the Layers Panel.
Duplicating the background layer by dropping it on the ‘Create new layer’ icon.
STEP 3: Open the Lens Correction Filter
Now it’s time for the ‘Photoshop Vignette Filter‘. Just again for clarity: Photoshop doesn’t have an actual ‘vignette filter’. However, there’s the Lens Correction Filter.
The Lens Correction Filter is often referred to as a ‘Photoshop Vignette Plugin‘, because it allows you to create a vignette effect – simply by moving around a couple of sliders.
So, let’s see how to add a vignette filter in Photoshop using Lens Correction.
With the background copy selected, go to Filter > Lens Correction in the top menu bar. This will open the image in the Lens Correction dialog window.
STEP 4: Adjust the vignette custom settings
The first thing you need to do in the Lens Correction dialog window is switch from the ‘Auto Correction‘ tab to the ‘Custom‘ tab – right below the Cancel button at the top.
Under the Custom tab, you’ll find the Vignette settings.
Here you can adjust the Amount of the vignette. Moving the slider down to the left will create a darker vignette. Moving it up to the right will create a lighter vignette.
Right below you can tweak the Midpoint. The Midpoint settings determine the size of your vignette.
Moving the slider down to the left will narrow down the focus point and increase the size of the vignette. Conversely, moving the slider up to the right will decrease the size of the vignette and enlarge the midpoint.
Play around with the settings to see what you like best. Once you’re happy with the result, click the OK button.
how do i create a black vignette in photoshop?
Creating a black vignette is super-easy with Photoshop’s Lens Correction Filter. All you need to do is pull the Vignette Amount slider down to the darkest point on the left… and there is your black Photoshop vignette!
Of course, you can again adjust the Midpoint to change the size of the vignette.
Creating a white vignette, on the other hand, can be done by pulling the Vignette Amount slider up to the lightest point on the right. However, the result is often not as good as a black vignette. A white vignette often looks overexposed.
If you’re not able to achieve a nice white vignette for your photo with the Lens Correction Filter, then you’ll find a better option in my other Photoshop vignette tutorial here. J
STEP 5: Tweak layer Opacity and Blending Mode
Let’s come back to the background layer copy, to which we added the vignette filter previously.
As you still have your original image below, you can now start tweaking certain settings of the layer that includes the vignette. This will allow you to achieve different cool effects.
For example, you can reduce the layer’s Opacity and Fill to soften the vignette effect. You can also change the Blending Mode to Soft Light or Overlay for more intense colors and lights. Multiply darkens down the entire photo.
→ TOP 6 Photoshop Blending Modes Explained
Play around with the settings to find out what you like best… and have fun with it!
Adding the vignette filter to a copy of the original layer allows you to create interesting effects that can intensify colors and lights.
Photoshop vignette action – FREE download
Here's where you get the best FREE #Photoshop #VignetteAction Download + 2 FREE Transparent Vignette Templates!
As I promised at the beginning, I have a Free Photoshop Vignette Action for you that you can download in the Freebie Library.
The package includes the Photoshop .ATN action file, as well as two transparent vignette PNG files, including a round and a square vignette. You’ll also find instructions on how to install the Photoshop vignette action!
Subscribe to get access to the Freebie Library and download the Photoshop Vignette Action along with 2 Transparent Vignette PNGs (round + square vignette)!
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I hope that this tutorial on how to add a vignette filter in Photoshop was helpful. If you found any value in it, please feel free to share it with other artists so they can also learn from it!
If you are using anything of what I’ve showed you in this post, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @ginangiela, or post a link here in the comments. I’d love to see your creations! Make sure to sign up for my email list below so you don’t miss out on new Photoshop tutorials, perks for subscribers and other cool stuff. ♥
