Vignetting

Vignetting refers to the photographic effect in which the brightness of a picture is sharper at the center and reduced at the picture’s edges. While the photographer may accidentally produce vignetting in his photos, he can also intentionally invoke this effect by using a specialized lens, placing a filter on his camera lens, using a lens hood or altering the patterns of light within the scene.

Similarly, if a photographer is shooting pictures with a digital camera, he can add vignetting to a photo after it is taken by using computer software, such as Adobe Photoshop.

At times, a photographer may use vignetting to draw extra attention to the center of the photograph, highlighting his central subject. He may also want to intentionally darken or obscure details at the edge of the picture.

However, vignetting isn’t always a positive feature. It can cause unwanted blurring if the effect is produced accidentally.

Pictures that have undergone vignetting will appear similar to those taken with a fisheye lens in that both blur the edges while emphasizing the center of the frame.

Vignetting often occurs in pictures taken with Diana cameras or other types of toy cameras.