Skip to content
ToolQivo

Vignette Effect

Darken the edges to draw the eye to the centre.

Image Tools Reviews Free · no sign-up

Drop an image here, or click to choose one

JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF or SVG · processed on your device, never uploaded

Quick Tool Overview

The Vignette Effect darkens the edges of a frame to push the eye toward the centre. The controls are the size of the clear area, the softness of the falloff and the strength at the corners — and the centre can be moved off-axis, which matters because a centred vignette on an off-centre subject darkens exactly the wrong thing.

What it does
Darkens or lightens the edges of an image
You give it
A photo and a strength
You get back
The image with a vignette applied
Best for
Portraits and single-subject photographs
Image Tools Free, unlimited use No sign-up Runs in your browser

About the Vignette Effect

A vignette darkens the corners of a frame, which pushes the eye toward the middle. It began as a lens defect and became a technique because it works: the effect is almost invisible when done well and unmistakable when overdone.

The controls are the size of the clear centre, how softly the darkening falls off, and how strong it gets at the corners. The centre can be moved off-axis when the subject is not in the middle, and the shape switched between elliptical and rectangular — the latter suits screenshots and product shots where a round darkening looks odd. A white vignette is also available for a faded, high-key look.

Key features of the Vignette Effect

Movable centre

Put the clear area over your subject rather than over the middle of the frame.

Elliptical or rectangular

A round vignette suits photographs; a rectangular one suits screenshots and product shots.

White vignette too

Fading the corners toward white gives a high-key look that suits soft portraits and white-background product shots.

Soft falloff by default

Starts at the settings that read as light rather than as a visible dark ring.

Conservative defaults

Opens around 25 percent, because the best vignette is one nobody notices.

How to use the Vignette Effect

  1. 1

    Load the photo

    Portraits and single-subject shots benefit most.

  2. 2

    Set the size and softness

    A large soft vignette is the one people do not notice. That is the goal.

  3. 3

    Move the centre if needed

    Put the clear area over the subject rather than the middle of the frame.

  4. 4

    Keep the strength low

    Around 20 to 35 percent. Beyond 50 it announces itself.

Frequently asked questions

Strong enough to guide the eye and weak enough that nobody notices it — usually 20 to 35 percent with a soft falloff. Anything you can clearly see as a dark ring is too much.

Reviews of the Vignette Effect

What people who use the Vignette Effect think of it. Reviews come from visitors and are posted as written.

No ratings yet

Yours would be the first.

  • 5 0 reviews rated 5 stars
  • 4 0 reviews rated 4 stars
  • 3 0 reviews rated 3 stars
  • 2 0 reviews rated 2 stars
  • 1 0 reviews rated 1 star

Write a review

Used this tool? Your rating helps the next person decide.

Your rating

Plain text only — links, email addresses and HTML are not accepted. Your name and review are shown publicly; nothing else is collected. See the privacy policy.

0 reviews

Newest first

No reviews yet

Be the first to rate the Vignette Effect. It takes half a minute and no account.

Write the first review

More image tools