Vignetting can be a powerful tool in editing, helping you direct attention to the most important part of your image. Whether you're working with portraits, product shots, or landscapes, controlling how light fades toward the edges can enhance your composition. But not all vignettes are created equal, and using the wrong approach can make your edits look artificial.
Coming to you from Gareth Evans with Park Cameras, this informative video breaks down different methods for adding vignettes in Lightroom Classic. The built-in vignette tool is quick and easy, but it has limitations. You can darken the edges of your image, but your control over shape and intensity is restricted. If you want more flexibility, Evans demonstrates how using masks—like radial and linear gradients—gives you much more control over the final look. This is useful when working with bright product shots or complex compositions where the standard vignette tool doesn’t cut it.
Evans walks through a real-world example using a product photo of a watch. The original image is bright overall, and the viewer’s eye isn’t naturally drawn to the subject. He first applies a simple radial gradient, inverting it so the darkening effect surrounds the watch rather than covering it. By adjusting the feathering and exposure, he creates a subtle yet effective vignette. This method works well for centering attention without making the vignette obvious. For even more control, he demonstrates using multiple linear gradients, allowing different levels of darkness in each corner. This method is especially useful when lighting is uneven across an image.
Another example shows how vignettes can work differently in landscapes. Instead of a traditional circular vignette, Evans applies a top-and-bottom sandwich effect using linear gradients. This keeps the sides of the image untouched while subtly darkening the upper and lower edges. By selectively brightening the central portion with another radial mask, he creates a natural sense of depth. This approach is particularly effective when dealing with high-contrast backgrounds or subjects that need to stand out without looking overly edited. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Evans.
