Creating a vignette in Photoshop is a powerful way to shift the focus to the main subject of your photo. So how do you create a vignette? It’s very simple. This tutorial shows you 4 QUICK & EASY TECHNIQUES for how to create a vignette effect in Photoshop. You can use these techniques to create a classic vignette photo effect, a black or a white vignette, but also a transparent vignette and Photoshop gradient vignette. Everything is possible…
How do you create a vignette?
A vignette helps draw the viewer’s attention to the subject of your image. That’s why it’s a fantastic way to put the main subject into focus. A vignette doesn’t have to be bold and heavy. A subtle vignette is oftentimes enough to improve the effect of the photo.
There are different types of vignettes that you can create in Photoshop: from the ‘classic’ vignette photo effect, to a black, white and transparent vignette, or a Photoshop vignette gradient. It’s totally up to your picture and to your taste!
This tutorial will show you 4 easy ways for how to create a vignette effect in Photoshop. You can apply one or a combination of two or more of the techniques to your photos to achieve the exact effect you desire – super-simple and fast.
Get your FREE vignette Action Download
And there’s yet another goodie waiting for you… I have a FREE Photoshop Vignette Action that you can download from the Freebie Library and use for your images!
But now let’s get started! In this tutorial, I’ll be walking you step-by-step through how to create a vignette effect in Photoshop using my photo Sharp from the Nature & Macro Collection.
Right below, you can move the slider to see a Before & After comparison of the two pictures. Before without vignette, and after with a classic vignette photo effect.
Which one do you think has a stronger effect on the viewer? I think the one with the Photoshop vignette… ☺️
- Move the slider to see the full Before & After images
BEFORE without vignette, and AFTER with vignette. The image is Sharp from my Nature & Macro Collection.
4 EASY WAYS – how to create a vignette effect in Photoshop
These are 4 easy techniques to create a vignette effect in Photoshop:
#PhotoshopTutorial: 4 EASY TECHNIQUES allow you to quickly create whatever #VignetteEffect you wish in #Photoshop!
TECHNIQUE 1: Adding a Curves Adjustment Layer
How do I create a classic vignette photo effect with Photoshop?
Technique #1 is probably the most commonly used technique to create a classic vignette photo effect with Photoshop. Adding a Curves Adjustment Layer is super-easy and quick.
After opening your photo in Photoshop, select the Elliptical Marquee Tool from the Toolbar. Then draw a circle around the main subject of the image.
With the circle active, we’re now going to add a new Curves Adjustment Layer.
To add the adjustment layer, go to the top menu bar and select Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves.
Another way to add an adjustment layer is by clicking on the little round ‘Create new fill or adjustment layer‘ icon at the bottom of your layers panel.
Then simply select the desired adjustment layer from the pop-up menu.
Once you’ve added the new adjustment layer, you’ll see that your circle is now active (white) on the layer mask, and the edges are hidden (black).
To create a vignette effect in Photoshop, however, we need it exactly the other way round.
Therefore, we’re going to invert the mask by clicking on the Invert button on the Layer Mask Properties panel.
With the inverted mask, we’re now going to go back to the Curves Properties Panel and move the curve down below the diagonal line. This will darken the edges and create the vignette effect for your photo. Adjust the curve according to your liking.
Option #1: Blurring the vignette outline
Of course, we don’t want to leave the circle outline as sharp as it is right now. That’s why we’re now going to use the Gaussian Blur filter on the layer mask.
In the top menu bar, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. This will open the Gaussian Blur dialog window. Here you can move the Radius slider up or down to a point where you like the vignette effect for your photo.
Look at your image and choose the radius that you like best. A higher-resolution image usually requires a higher radius than a smaller, lower-resolution picture.
And here you are… you’ve just created a classic vignette photo effect with Photoshop! 👍
Option #2: Blurring the vignette outline
As a vignette effect always requires blurred edges, I want to show you two more techniques to blur the circle selection.
First of all, you can increase the Feather value when you’re using the Elliptical Marquee Tool. The Feather field will appear in the top bar as soon as you’ve selected the Marquee Tool.
Again, a larger image requires a higher value than a lower-resolution image.
Want to know how to get the Copyright symbol © in a Photoshop tab?
Option #3: Blurring the vignette outline
Option #3 to blur the circle outline is to move up the Feather slider on the Layer Mask Properties panel.
All these three blurring techniques achieve the same effect. You choose the one you like best!
TECHNIQUE 2: Adding a Levels Adjustment Layer
Let’s come to the second technique in our tutorial on how to create a vignette effect in Photoshop – adding a Levels Adjustment Layer.
A Levels Adjustment Layer has basically the same effect as a Curves Adjustment Layer.
Instead of moving the curve, you now move the black and gray sliders up to create a darker vignette.
How do I create a black vignette in Photoshop?
A Levels Adjustment Layer can be easily used to create a black vignette in Photoshop.
Apart from moving up the black and gray sliders, all you need to do is move down the white slider of the Output Levels at the bottom of the Levels Properties panel.
This will take out all bright and white colors completely and result in a black vignette around your photo. Remember: you can tweak Opacity and Fill of the adjustment layer to create the exact effect you wish.
TECHNIQUE 3: Adding a Solid Color Adjustment Layer
Time for Technique 3 in our tutorial on how to create a vignette effect in Photoshop.
In this technique, we’re going to make the vignette using a Solid Color Adjustment Layer. As compared to the previous two techniques, a Solid Color Adjustment Layer gives you more options of creating vignettes in different colors and shades.
This time, we’re going to create a square vignette – just for a change. Therefore, we’re going to pick the Rectangular Marquee Tool from the Toolbar and draw a rectangle around the subject of the photo.
With the rectangular selection active, add the Solid Color Adjustment Layer, invert the mask, and blur the outline using one of the three blurring options we discussed above.
Next, choose a color for the vignette that goes well with your picture. Usually, it’s a good idea to switch the layer’s blending mode to Multiply as this will result in a darker effect. Reduce the Opacity, if you think the color is too intense.
How do I create a white vignette in Photoshop?
Some photos look better with lighter edges. A Solid Color Adjustment Layer is also a great and easy way to create a white vignette in Photoshop.
Simply select a plain white or whitish color on the adjustment layer. To intensify the effect, you can set the Blending Mode to Screen or Lighten. Tweak Opacity and Fill until you like the result.
TECHNIQUE 4: Adding a Gradient Adjustment Layer
How do I create a Photoshop vignette gradient?
Last but not least, I’m going to show you how to create a Photoshop vignette gradient.
Depending on the gradient you choose, you can make the vignette darker at the bottom than at the top, or the right side another color than the left side… or the other way round. Your creativity is your limit… 😉
First off, you again need to draw a circle or rectangular around the subject of your image. After that, add a new Gradient or Gradient Map Adjustment Layer (both will produce the same effect).
Then click on the Gradient bar to set the colors for your gradient. In the Gradient Fill dialog box, you can make further adjustments like Angle and Style.
Once you’re happy with the settings, just hit OK. As usual, you can tweak Opacity and Fill or change the Blending Mode.
→ How To Use Blending Modes In Photoshop – (With Blend Modes Cheat Sheet!)
Okey-dokey… here we are… You’ve just learned 4 quick and easy techniques for how to create a vignette effect in Photoshop!
You can use either one of these techniques individually, or you can combine two or several of them to achieve the exact vignette effect that you have in mind and that works best for your photo.
Just play around a bit with the techniques and have fun being creative!
Don't want to create a vignette effect yourself? Let Photoshop do it for you!
How do you make a transparent vignette in Photoshop?
Making a transparent vignette in Photoshop is now a piece of cake. As we’ve created all vignettes on a separate adjustment layer, all you need to do is switch off the background layer.
Once the adjustment layer is the only layer remaining visible, you can save the image as a transparent PNG.
Right here, you see what a round transparent vignette looks like.
The good thing is that PNGs don’t lose any quality when you scale and re-save them. Therefore, once saved, you can use the transparent vignette PNG for your photos over and over again.
The round transparent vignette, along with a square transparent vignette, is also in the below Photoshop Vignette Package that you can download in the Freebie Library!
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!
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I hope that this tutorial on how to create a vignette effect 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. ♥
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