The Effects panel vignette is centered on the frame. The Radial Gradient is centered wherever you draw it — right on your subject, wherever they stand.
💡Draw an ellipse. Apply adjustments inside or outside it. That's the whole tool — and it's one of the most useful in Lightroom's masking panel.
Where to Find It
Masking Panel → Radial Gradient
1
Open the Masking panel in Develop
Click the Masking icon below the histogram (circle with dashed edge), or press Shift+W. The list of all mask types appears.
2
Click "Radial Gradient" — or press Shift+M
Shift+M jumps you directly to the Radial Gradient tool. Your cursor becomes a crosshair, ready to draw.
3
Click and drag on the photo to draw the ellipse
Click where you want the center, drag outward, release. Start broad — you can always reshape it. Adjustment sliders appear on the right.
⌨️Shift+M = Radial Gradient · M = Linear Gradient. Memorize both — they're your two most-used gradient masks.
How It Works
Ellipse + Invert Toggle
How the Ellipse Divides the Frame
🔄Invert OFF = adjustments outside the ellipse (vignette). Invert ON = adjustments inside (spotlight). Same ellipse, one toggle, completely different result.
Inside vs. Outside
Vignette · Spotlight
DARK EDGES
Invert OFF — Vignette
Lower Exposure outside the ellipse. Edges darken, subject is protected inside. The eye moves inward naturally.
BRIGHT CENTER
Invert ON — Spotlight
Raise Exposure inside the ellipse. Subject gets brighter, surrounding area untouched. Add warmth for flattering light.
💡Use both together on the same image — one vignette + one spotlight. Add a second mask via the Add button in the Masks panel.
Reshaping
Handles, Rotation, Reposition
H
Drag the four edge handles to resize
Top, bottom, left, right handles stretch or compress that dimension. Make a wide flat ellipse for landscapes, a taller one for portraits.
R
Move cursor just outside the boundary edge to rotate
The cursor changes to a curved rotation arrow. Drag to spin the ellipse. Useful for diagonal subjects and off-angle compositions.
M
Drag the center pin to move the whole ellipse
Click the solid center dot and drag to reposition the entire ellipse anywhere on the frame. Slide it over the subject after drawing.
🎯Draw rough, then reshape. Start with a large ellipse and refine the size and position — it's faster than trying to place it perfectly on the first drag.
Feathering
Controlling the Edge Transition
The Feather slider controls how soft or sharp the boundary between inside and outside appears.
FEATHER 0%
Hard edge — visible ring. Almost never what you want.
FEATHER 50%
Default. Good starting point — moderate blend.
FEATHER 100%
Invisible transition. Viewer feels the effect, not the tool.
🎚️For natural-looking vignettes and spotlights, push Feather to 60–80. The effect stays, the ellipse disappears. That's the goal.
Classic Use
Creating a Vignette
Darken outside the ellipse to draw the eye inward — better than the Effects panel because you control the center.
1
Draw ellipse centered on (or around) the subject
The subject should be comfortably inside. For a portrait, include the face and some shoulder breathing room.
2
Confirm Invert is OFF (default)
Adjustments apply outside the ellipse. The subject is protected.
3
Lower Exposure –0.5 to –0.8 · Set Feather 65–80
Less is more. A –0.6 exposure drop with high feather looks like thoughtful lighting. –1.5 looks filtered. Keep it subtle.
🌑Quick recipe: Invert OFF · Exposure –0.6 · Feather 75. The viewer's eye moves inward without consciously seeing a vignette.
Classic Use
Creating a Spotlight
Brighten and warm inside the ellipse to simulate studio light or golden-hour glow on the subject.
☀️
Exposure +0.3 to +0.5
Inside the ellipse. Subjects appear lit — faces pop off the background without looking retouched. Stay gentle.
🌅
Temp — push slightly warm
A warm spotlight reads as flattering studio or window light. Combine with the Exposure boost for maximum effect.
✨Quick recipe: Invert ON · Exposure +0.35 · Temp +300 · Feather 70. The subject glows. The background doesn't notice.
Stacking Masks
Two Radial Gradients Together
One vignette + one spotlight on the same image. Add a second mask via the Add button in the Masks panel.
➕Double-click each mask name in the Masks panel to rename them "Vignette" and "Spotlight" — essential for keeping complex edits organized.
Combining Masks
Radial Gradient + Select Subject
🌟
The Glow Effect
Radial Gradient slightly larger than subject, Invert on, Feather 70+. Raise Exposure + warm Temp. The light spills gently just beyond the subject outline — like window light.
✂️
Subtract the Subject
In a vignette mask, use Subtract → Select Subject. Lightroom darkens outside the ellipse but perfectly protects the subject's outline — regardless of position.
🤖The AI masks and gradient masks work together. Use radial gradients for zone control, Select Subject for precision — combine both for professional finishing.
Creative Color
Warm Center · Cool Edges
Color Toning — Two Radial Gradients
🌅 Warm Center
Radial Gradient · Invert ON · centered on subject · Temp +400–600
🎨Every slider in the adjustment panel works inside a radial gradient mask — not just Exposure. Color, sharpness, noise — all of it.
Your Homework
🎯
Radial Gradient Challenge
Pick a portrait or subject photo. Complete all of these before Lesson 21.
🌑 Build a vignette: Invert OFF · Exposure –0.6 · Feather 75+
☀️ Add a spotlight: Invert ON · Exposure +0.35 · Temp warm · Feather 70+
🎨 Try color toning — warm inside the spotlight, cool on the vignette
🔄 Reshape the ellipse — practice resizing, rotating, and repositioning
🎚️ Test Feather at 0, 50, and 100 — see the difference side by side
💬 Share a before/after in the club gallery or comments
Up Next
Lesson 21 — Lightroom Classic
Masking: Brush
The Brush mask lets you paint adjustments freehand onto any part of the image. No ellipses, no straight lines — just a brush you control. Paint in corrections, erase where you went too far, and use it to clean up AI masks that aren't quite right. The final piece of the complete Lightroom masking toolkit.