Two-Layer Vignettes in Photoshop: The Technique That Makes Your Subject Pop

Two-Layer Vignettes in Photoshop: The Technique That Makes Your Subject Pop

I used to add vignettes the lazy way. Throw a black-to-transparent radial gradient on top, drop the opacity to taste, call it a day. It worked well enough for meme graphics back when I was just making stuff for friends’ band pages, but the moment I started doing actual client work, that flat gradient approach looked exactly like what it was: a shortcut. The edges felt pasted on. Photographers noticed. Art directors noticed.