A vignette darkens frame edges to concentrate attention inward and give a generative field coherence

A vignette gradually darkens or softens the edges of a frame, funneling the viewer’s attention toward the center and implying a lens or camera. In generative visuals a subtle vignette almost always helps a busy field cohere by dimming the peripheral activity. A heavy vignette shifts the aesthetic register toward retro-CRT or vaporwave styles. This is applied in color/value space, typically by multiplying the image by a radial falloff shape.

Examples

Multiplying a frame by smoothstep(1.2, 0.3, length(uv)) applies a soft center-preserving vignette. Reducing the outer falloff radius intensifies it to a retro look.

Assessment

Describe the difference in visual effect between a subtle and a heavy vignette, and explain which aesthetic register each belongs to.