Vignette Studio Pro
Professional blending engine. Add focus, drama, and filmic texture.
Open Photo
Drag & drop or Click
Pro Tweaks
Studio-Grade Compositing
Vignette Studio Pro takes the classic dark-edge effect and upgrades it with professional compositing logic. Instead of just painting a layer on top, we use mathematical Blend Modes to mix light and shadow realistically.
In photography, a vignette naturally draws the viewer's eye to the center of the frame. It replicates the physical characteristics of fast lenses where light falls off at the corners. Our tool allows you to simulate this effect perfectly or break the rules with creative shapes and custom focus points.
Professional Modes
- MultiplyThe gold standard for dark vignettes. It simulates physical light falloff for a perfectly natural look.
- ScreenThe opposite of Multiply. Use with white colors for dream sequences or "flashback" effects.
- OverlayAdds contrast. Darkens the darks and lightens the lights simultaneously. Very dramatic.
Creative Framing
Break the rules of optics.
- Interactive Focus: Your subject isn't always in the center. Click anywhere to move the spotlight.
- Shapes: Use Hearts for romance, Stars for awards, or Rounded Rectangles for screens.
- Film Grain: Add texture to prevent banding and give your photo a polished, high-end finish.
How to Create the Perfect Vignette
Upload & Focus
Upload your photo. Use the "Set Focus Point" tool to click exactly where you want the viewer's eye to go.
Shape & Blend
Choose a shape (Ellipse is classic, Heart is creative) and a Blend Mode. "Multiply" is best for natural shadows.
Refine Intensity
Adjust Size and Feather. Professional tip: Increase feathering to 70%+ for a seamless look.
Texture & Export
Add a tiny bit of Film Grain to bind the effect together, then export in high-quality JPG, PNG, or WebP.
Professional Tips
1Don't Make It Obvious
The best vignette is one you can't explicitly see. If you can see the black ring, decrease the opacity. It should be felt, not seen.
2Colored Vignettes
Try using a very dark blue instead of pure black for night scenes. This mimics the "Purkinje effect" of human vision in low light.
3Use Grain
Digital gradients often suffer from "banding" (ugly stripes). Adding 2-3% grain breaks up these bands and makes the gradient look perfectly smooth.
4Rule of Thirds
Don't just center it. If your subject is on the right, move the vignette focus to the right. This maintains visual balance while emphasizing the subject.
Who Is This Tool For?
Photographers
Draw attention to the subject in portraiture or landscape photography without opening Photoshop.
Social Media
Use the Heart shape or Star shape for unique, eye-catching thumbnails and posts.
Designers
Create dramatic backgrounds for text by darkening the edges of stock photos instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use 'Blend Modes' instead of just painting black?
Standard vignettes just paint semi-transparent black over your pixels, which can look muddy. 'Multiply' mode burns the darkness into the existing colors for a natural shadows look. 'Overlay' increases contrast, and 'Screen' is perfect for white vignettes to create a glowing dream effect.
How do I move the focus point?
Click the 'Set Focus Point' button in the toolbar, then click anywhere on your image. This allows you to highlight off-center subjects (following the Rule of Thirds) instead of just the dead center.
What does the 'Grain / Noise' slider do?
Digital gradients can sometimes look banded (striped). Adding a small amount of Grain (Noise) creates a process called 'dithering' which smoothes out these bands and adds a textured, filmic quality to your photo.
Can I create a Heart-shaped vignette?
Yes! In the Shape selector, choose the Heart icon. This creates a romantic frame perfect for couple photos or Valentine's Day content. You can also choose Squares or Stars for other creative effects.
Is this tool free for commercial use?
Yes, Vignette Studio Pro is 100% free for all personal and commercial projects. We do not watermark your images.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes, the tool is fully responsive. You can tap to set the focus point on touch screens just like you click on a desktop.
What is the best blend mode for a dark moody look?
Use 'Multiply'. It darkens the image by multiplying the base colors with the dark vignette, creating deep, rich shadows that look like natural lighting falloff.
How do I make the edges soft?
Increase the 'Feather' slider. A high feather value (70-100%) creates a very gradual, unnoticeable transition. A low value creates a hard, spotlight-like frame.
Can I choose colors other than black or white?
Absolutely. While black (Multiply) and white (Screen) are classic, you can pick any color from the spectrum. A dark blue vignette creates a 'cool' cinematic night effect, while sepia tones can make an image look vintage.
How do I avoid ruining my image quality?
Our tool processes everything locally at full resolution. For the best results, use 'Multiply' mode instead of 'Normal' to preserve color data, and export as PNG or high-quality JPG. Adding a touch of grain also prevents compression artifacts.