How to Add a Vignette Effect in Photoshop

The fastest way to add a vignette in Photoshop

A vignette darkens or lightens the edges of a photo while keeping the center bright, drawing the viewer's eye to the middle of the image. In Photoshop, the quickest route is the Lens Correction filter, which applies a vignette in three clicks without creating extra layers or masks.

Open your image in Photoshop, then go to Filter > Lens Correction. Click the Custom tab at the top. In the right panel under "Vignette," drag the Amount slider left (to darken edges) or right (to lighten them). Adjust the Midpoint slider to control how far the effect spreads from the edges toward the center. Click OK when it looks right.

This method works on any layer and applies the vignette directly to the pixels. If you want to undo it later, you can step back in the History panel, but you cannot adjust it without running the filter again.

Key Takeaways

The Lens Correction filter (Filter > Lens Correction > Custom tab) is the fastest built-in vignette tool and requires no layers or masks.
The Amount slider controls how dark or light the edges become, while Midpoint controls how far the effect reaches toward the center.
If you want to adjust the vignette later without re-running the filter, use a Curves adjustment layer with a layer mask instead.
Vignettes work best on portraits, product shots, and images where you want to emphasize the center and reduce edge distractions.

Using a Curves adjustment layer for a vignette you can change later

If you think you might want to adjust the vignette strength after you explore it, use a Curves adjustment layer instead. This method takes a few more steps but gives you full control without permanently changing your image.

Create a new Curves adjustment layer by clicking the Curves icon in the Adjustments panel (it looks like a diagonal line). In the Curves dialog, pull the curve down slightly to darken the image overall. Then click OK to close the dialog.

Now add a layer mask to the Curves layer by right-clicking the layer and selecting Add Layer Mask > White (Full Opacity). Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool from the toolbox, then draw an oval selection in the center of your image where you want the vignette to fade out. Go to Select > Modify > Feather, enter a value between 80 and 150 pixels (depending on image size), and click OK. Then go to Select > Invert to select the edges instead of the center. With the layer mask selected, fill the selection with black by pressing Edit > Fill > Black. Deselect by pressing Ctrl+D (Windows) or Cmd+D (Mac).

The black areas of the mask hide the darkening effect, leaving the center bright. The feathered edges create a smooth transition. You can adjust the vignette strength later by double-clicking the Curves layer to reopen the curve, or by painting on the mask with gray to soften the effect further.

Controlling vignette darkness and spread with the Lens Correction settings

The Lens Correction filter gives you two main controls. Amount ranges from −100 to 100. Negative values darken the edges (the most common choice), while positive values lighten them. Start at −30 to −50 for a subtle effect, or go to −80 or lower for a dramatic darkening.

Midpoint controls where the vignette begins to fade in. A lower midpoint (around 30−50) keeps the darkening close to the edges. A higher midpoint (70−90) spreads the effect further toward the center. Most portraits look good with a midpoint between 50 and 70.

You can also adjust Roundness to make the vignette more oval or more circular, though the default usually works well. Preview the changes in real time on your image before clicking OK.

When a vignette helps and when it does not

Vignettes work well on portraits because they pull attention to the face and away from busy backgrounds. They also suit product photography, landscape shots with distracting skies, and any image where the edges compete with the subject.

Avoid vignettes on images with important detail at the edges—a group photo where people stand around the frame, a landscape where the sky or foreground matters equally, or a document or flat lay where all areas need equal brightness. A vignette can also look artificial if it is too strong or if the image is already cropped tightly. Test the effect at different strengths before committing.

Removing or adjusting a vignette you already applied

If you used the Lens Correction filter and want to undo the vignette, step back in the History panel by clicking the state before you ran the filter. If you have already saved and closed the file, you cannot undo it without reopening an older version.

If you used a Curves adjustment layer with a mask, you have more flexibility. Double-click the Curves layer to adjust the curve strength, or paint on the layer mask with a soft brush and gray paint to lighten the vignette gradually. You can also delete the entire adjustment layer and start over without affecting your original image.

Other vignette methods in Photoshop

Beyond Lens Correction and Curves, you can create a vignette manually using the Elliptical Marquee Tool and Feather. Make an elliptical selection in the center of your image, feather it heavily (100−200 pixels), invert the selection, and then darken the edges using Curves or Levels. This method gives you precise control but takes longer.

Some photographers use the Radial Blur filter set to Zoom mode at very low values, or they paint a vignette by hand on a new layer with a soft brush. These approaches are less common because Lens Correction and Curves are faster and produce cleaner results. Stick with Lens Correction for speed, or Curves with a mask if you need to adjust the effect later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a vignette to only part of an image?

Yes. Create a selection around the area where you want the vignette, then run Lens Correction. The filter applies only inside the selection. Alternatively, use a Curves adjustment layer with a layer mask and paint the mask to control exactly where the vignette appears.

What is the difference between darkening and lightening a vignette?

A negative Amount value darkens the edges, which is the standard vignette and works on most photos. A positive Amount lightens the edges, which is less common but can work on very dark images or when you want a soft, ethereal look. Experiment with both to see what suits your image.

Does a vignette work on black and white photos?

Yes. Vignettes work the same way on black and white images as they do on color. They are often used on black and white portraits because the lack of color makes the tonal shift at the edges more noticeable and dramatic.

Can I save a vignette as a preset to use on other images?

If you use Lens Correction, you can save your settings as a preset by clicking the menu icon in the Lens Correction dialog and selecting "Save Lens Profile." For Curves adjustment layers, save the layer as a preset by right-clicking it and selecting "Save as Preset," then load it on other images.

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