Create vignettes using masks

Last updated on Apr 1, 2026

Learn to apply the Brightness & Contrast effect with custom mask shapes to control vignette placement and achieve dramatic focus effects in Adobe Premiere.

Mask-based vignettes give you precise control over shape and position, making them ideal for interviews, close-ups, or any scenario where you need to direct attention to a specific subject rather than the entire frame center.

This technique uses the Brightness & Contrast effect combined with masks to create custom vignette shapes. Unlike the Vignette controls in the Lumetri Color panel, which create vignettes that surround the entire frame, mask-based vignettes let you define exactly where the darkened area appears and what shape it takes. This approach works best when you need asymmetrical vignettes or want to isolate a specific subject, such as a person's face, during an interview.

Select your clip in the timeline.

In the Toolbar, select and hold the Object Mask Tool , then choose Ellipse Mask Tool icon, Rectangle Mask Tool icon, or the Pen Mask Tool icon.

Draw the mask in the Program Monitor.

Open the Effect Controls panel for the selected clip.

Track selected mask forward and backward.

Under the Lumetri Color section, adjust the Vignette value to control the softness of the vignette edge, higher values create smoother, more gradual transitions.

Effect Controls panel showing Vignette settings with a masked subject highlighted in the Program Monitor.
Use the Vignette controls with a mask in the Effect Controls panel to create a vignette around the subject.

Tip

You can protect areas that you want to leave as-is by masking them and select the Inverted checkbox to apply the vignette effect to the unmasked areas.