blended vignette? how to make a photo look more professional?

[amwolf2]

Something I have noticed of images of professional photography that I think are great is that the corners and edges seem to be a bit darker, or more saturated with color. Kind of like a vignette but one that blends in more...blends with the natural colors in the photograph.

Can anyone tell me how to do that? And is there a specific name for that effect?

thanks!
Amy

[SharLamb]

One thing you can do is use your BURN TOOL along the edges/corners. Use a soft brush and lower the opacity. There are more elaborate methods which I'm sure others will suggest.

[Sepiana]

Hi Amy, welcome aboard!

Here's a tut for the effect you're interested in:

Burnt Edges Vignette (http://www.alibony.com/pse/051408burnedges.html)

[Jeff Perry]

A very simple and quick technique is to use the Correct Camera Distortion filter to ADD vignette, instead of using it to remove light fall off (vignette) caused by a lens.

Note to self...Use this technique AFTER you have cropped to the final size (for a reason that will become obvious).

Go to Filter>Correct Camera Distortion... and slide the Vignette "Amount" slider all the way to the left. Hit OK.

Want more of a vignette? Apply the filter again.

Jeff

[amwolf2]

thank you everyone! just what I was looking for!

[Bill Guy]

Just one additional note for Jeff's tip. I also use this but do this way. Go to Layer>New and when the dialog box comes up change the mode to Overlay and at the bottom check the box for Fill with 50% Gray. This will make a new layer with the invisible gray. Now go to the Len Distortion and add the Vignette. With it on this layer you can reduce the opacity or change it to soft light mode for an even softer look.

[ljameso1]

Here's yet another way. Add a levels adjustment layer and move middle slider to the right. Click inside the layer mask and run a black to white gradient set to radial. Can also use oval marque or lasso tool to draw loose circle around the main subject. Feather the selection a lot(150pixels), invert the selection, and with the ants still active add the levels adjustment. The mask will have a graduated vignette automatically.