Vignetting

So what is vignetting? Take a look at the image below. The corners are darker than the center of the image. This was intentionally done –in order to help draw your attention towards the subject. This is a pretty common technique for photographers –it’s usually pretty subtle,and can be very effective if it’s done right.

Now,as I said,it’s often done intentionally –but vignetting can be annoying when it happens in-camera. Darkening of the corners occurs because of light fall off,and it can be especially problematic when  you are shooting with a large aperture. But don’t worry! Photoshop CS5 makes fixing the problem easier than ever.

• Click on the Filter Menu,and choose Lens Correction from the drop-down list
• In the Lens Correction Dialog,check the box next to Vignette and select the appropriate lens with the help of the Search Criteria menus. If your lens does not appear on the list,you can use the Custom tab to make the correction manually.

Here’s a handy little image to help clarify the process. It’s a nice little feature,isn’t it?

Now –I’d be remiss if I didn’t say there are other ways to do this. You can add or remove vignetting with the RAW converter,too. Or you could use a mask to create a similar effect with an adjustment layer. There’s no “wrong”way to do it. Just find what works for you!

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