How to Create a Soft Fade Vignette Effect in Adobe Photoshop CC

This article explains two ways to create a soft fade vignette effect in Adobe Photoshop. Instructions apply to Adobe Photoshop CC 2019.

Technique One: Add a Layer Mask

Open a photo in Photoshop.
To get the soft white frame, you first need to create a white (or any color of your choice) background. In the Layers tab, select New Fill or Adjustment Layer denoted by a half black and white circle and then select Solid Color.
In the Color Picker, enter R: 255, G: 255, B: 255 to get a solid white background. You should see the new window change to white. Select OK
Select the Color Fill layer thumbnail (right image), which will be labeled something like Color Fill 1.
Convert the background to a layer by double-clicking it in the Layers palette. When an image is opened in Photoshop it opens as a locked background layer. When you double-click the layer, the New Layer dialog box opens, and you can either choose to name the layer or leave the default name—Layer 0—as is. A common alternative practice is to convert the layer to a Smart Object. This non-destructive technique preserves the original image.
Select Layer 0 (image) and move it above your Color Fill layer so that you can see your image again.
With the layer selected in the Layers panel, select the Elliptical Marquee tool and drag a marquee selection around the area of the photo you want to keep.
Select the Add Layer Mask button at the bottom of the layers palette. The Add Layer Mask icon is the box with the hole at the bottom of the Layers panel. When you release the mouse, the layer sports a chain and a new thumbnail. The new thumbnail is the mask.
Double-click the layer mask thumbnail in the Layers palette to open the Properties panel for the mask. If it isn't open, expand the Tab Group area to view Properties.
Fade the edges of the mask to create the vignette effect. The window has four sliders to help you get things just right:

Smooth: This slider makes the edge transition less sharp.
Feather: Moving this in or out increases or decrease the fade at the edges of the mask.
Contrast: Moving this slider makes the edge of the selection sharper and more defined.
Shift Edge: Sliding this in or out increases or decreases the diameter of the selection area you set in Step 2.

11. Select OK to return to the Layers panel.

Technique Two: Use a Vector Shape as the Mask

The great thing about working with a vector is you can use or create any vector shape and then apply it as a mask for the image.

Open an image in Photoshop.
Convert the background to a layer by double-clicking it in the Layers palette. When an image is opened in Photoshop it opens as a locked background layer. When you double-click the layer, the New Layer dialog box opens, and you can either choose to name the layer or leave the default name—Layer 0—as is.
Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool and draw the mask shape.
At the bottom of Layers, select New fill or adjustment layer, and then select Gradient.
In Gradient Fill, set the gradient fill Style to Radial. Make sure the Gradient is Black and White and then select OK.
When you return to your layers you should see an ellipse layer above the image. Drag the layer below the image.
With your Command or Ctrl key pressed down, drag the ellipse layer onto the image layer. You will see a mask icon ,and when you release the mouse, the shape is applied to the image as a mask.
Double-click the mask to open the Vector Mask Properties panel.
Drag the Feather slider to the right to add the vignette.

The neat thing about vectors in Photoshop is that they can be edited. To edit the shape of the mask, select the mask in the Layers panel and switch to the Path Selection tool. You can drag points out or add points using the Pen tool.

Helpful Tips

Paint in the layer mask with shades of gray to adjust the overall effect. Just click the mask thumbnail in the Layers palette to activate it for painting. Default the foreground and background colors to black and white and select the Brush tool and—with the mask layer selected—paint over the mask area. Be careful with this technique, given the old adage that "black hides and white reveals." The shades of gray between them control opacity.

If you decide you don't like the effect, drag the mask thumbnail to the trash icon on the Layers palette and choose Discard.

To reposition the vignette, click the link icon between the layer thumbnail and the mask thumbnail to move the mask independently of the layer. Don't forget to relink them when you're done.

You don't have to use just the Elliptical Marquee tool. The Rectangular Marquee or text can be used as a mask in Photoshop, too.

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