© Jed Best

The Vignette Blur filter within Color Efex Pro 4 is another great filter to use to help lead the viewer to where we want them to look in an image. It does this by enabling us to soften the detail around the edges of the image, which then leads the viewer’s attention to what is sharp within the image. The ability to create softness, while also being a non-destructive process, makes this a very creative and fun filter.

This is a great filter to use within Color Efex Pro 4, and by looking closely at the filter controls you will get a good idea of how to quickly apply a vignette to your images.

Vignette Blur filter control options

The Shape drop-down menu offers 3 different vignette options; circle, oval, or rectangle.

Shape options

The Type drop-down menu allows you to select one of the four types of blur that is applied to the image. The four options are: traditional blur, light blur, subtle blur, or a strong white blur.

Type options

The Transition slider controls the blending or the transition from the original image into the vignette. Operating on a range from 0% to 100%, this defaults at 80%. Moving the slider to the right will soften the transition of the vignette, and moving the slider to the left will make the transition more abrupt.

The Size slider controls the size of the vignette added to the image. Moving the slider to the right increases the size of the vignette, while moving the slider to the left will decrease the size of the vignette. The default value is set to 60%, and the slider operates on a range from 0% to 100%.

The Opacity slider allows you to increase or decrease the effect of the vignette on the image by controlling the overall strength. The default value is set to 100%, applying the full blur effect to begin with. This works on a range of 0% to 100%. Moving the slider to the left will reduce the opacity of the vignette blur or remove it completely.

Place Center positions the center of the vignette in the image. Simply click on the Place Center button, and then move the cursor into your image and click where you want the center to be.

Tip: This is a great filter to use to simulate the look of a specialty lens or to create a soft Bokeh effect.