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How to Create a Vignette Effect in Photoshop: 4 Easy Ways + Free Vignette Action Download!

The vignette effect is a popular technique in photography and graphic design that helps to draw attention to the centre of an image while subtly fading the edges. This elegant touch can add a professional finish to your photos, and the good news is that Adobe Photoshop makes it easy to achieve this effect. In this article, we’ll explore four straightforward methods to create a vignette effect in Photoshop, along with a bonus: a free vignette action download to automate the process!

Method 1: Using the Lens Correction Filter

1. Open Your Image: Start by launching Photoshop and opening the image you wish to edit.

2. Access Lens Correction: Go to the top menu, click on Filter, then select Lens Correction.

3. Apply Vignette: In the Lens Correction window, navigate to the Custom tab. Here, you’ll find a Vignette section. Adjust the Amount slider to control the strength of the vignette effect, and the Midpoint slider to fine-tune how quickly the vignette fades into the image.

4. Preview and Apply: As you make adjustments, the preview will change in real-time. Once you’re satisfied with the effect, click OK to apply it.

Method 2: Creating a Vignette with a Radial Filter

1. Open Your Image: Open the image you want to edit in Photoshop.

2. Create a New Layer: Go to Layer > New > Layer, or press Shift + Ctrl + N (Windows) / Shift + Cmd + N (Mac).

3. Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool: From the toolbar, choose the Elliptical Marquee Tool (press M to cycle through the selection tools). Draw an elliptical selection from the centre of your image outwards.

4. Feather the Selection: With the selection active, go to Select > Modify > Feather and set a high pixel value (usually between 100-200 pixels works well).

5. Invert the Selection: Press Shift + Ctrl + I (Windows) / Shift + Cmd + I (Mac) to invert the selection.

6. Fill with Black: Select the Paint Bucket Tool (press G) and fill the outer area with black. Deselect the selection by pressing Ctrl + D (Windows) / Cmd + D (Mac).

7. Adjust Opacity: Lower the layer Opacity to your liking in the Layers panel.

Method 3: Using a Gradient Fill

1. Open Your Image: Load the photo you want to work on.

2. Create a New Gradient Fill Layer: Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Gradient.

3. Select the Gradient: In the Gradient Fill options, select the Radial Gradient and choose a black-to-transparent gradient.

4. Position the Gradient: Adjust the gradient’s scale to cover your image properly, ensuring that the centre fades away, and click OK.

5. Change the Layer Blending Mode: Set the blending mode of the gradient layer to Multiply and adjust the layer’s Opacity to achieve the desired vignette effect.

Method 4: Using Camera Raw Filter

1. Open Your Image: Load your chosen image into Photoshop.

2. Open Camera Raw: Go to Filter > Camera Raw Filter.

3. Select the Radial Filter: In the Camera Raw interface, select the Radial Filter Tool (the circle icon).

4. Draw Your Vignette: Click and drag to draw an elliptical area over the part of the image you want illuminated, adjusting the size as necessary.

5. Adjust the Settings: In the right panel, reduce the Exposure to create the vignette effect. You can also tweak the Feather slider to smooth out the edges of the vignette.

6. Apply the Changes: Once you’re happy with the look, click OK to apply the effect to your image.

Bonus: Free Vignette Action Download

To make your editing even easier, we are pleased to offer a free vignette action for Photoshop. This action will automate the vignette creation process, allowing you to apply the effect with a single click!

How to Download and Use the Vignette Action:

1. Download the Action: Download your free Vignette Action here (link placeholder).

2. Install the Action: Open Photoshop, go to the Actions panel (Window > Actions), and click on the menu to select Load Actions. Navigate to the downloaded file and select it to load your new action.

3. Apply the Action: Open an image, select the vignette action from the Actions panel, and click the play button to automatically apply the vignette effect.

Conclusion

Creating a vignette effect in Photoshop doesn’t have to be complicated. With these four easy methods, you can enhance your images and draw the viewer’s eye to the focal point. Plus, don’t forget to grab your free vignette action for even quicker editing! Now that you have these tools at your disposal, it’s time to get creative and elevate your photos to the next level. Happy editing!