How to Add a Vignette to a Photograph with GIMP

Adding a vignette to a photograph with GIMP is a great way to draw attention to the subject of the photo and create a more artistic effect. Here's a step-by-step guide to adding a vignette to a photograph with GIMP:

1. Open the photograph in GIMP by selecting "File" > "Open" and choosing the photo you want to work with.

2. Create a new layer by selecting "Layer" > "New Layer" and choose "Transparency" as the layer fill type. Click "OK" to create the new layer.

3. Select the "Ellipse Select" tool from the toolbar on the left-hand side of the screen.

4. Use the "Ellipse Select" tool to create a circular selection around the subject of the photo. The selection should be slightly larger than the subject itself.

5. Invert the selection by selecting "Select" > "Invert" from the top menu.

6. Click on the "Paintbrush" tool from the toolbar on the left-hand side of the screen.

7. Set the foreground color to black by selecting black as the color in the "Color" dialog box.

8. Use the paintbrush tool to fill the inverted selection with black.

9. Deselect the selection by selecting "Select" > "None" from the top menu.

10. Select the "Blur/Sharpen" tool from the toolbar on the left-hand side of the screen.

11. Use the "Blur/Sharpen" tool to blur the edges of the black circle slightly. The amount of blur will depend on the size of the photo and the effect you want to achieve.

12. Adjust the opacity of the layer to your liking. You can do this by using the slider in the "Layers" dialog box.

13. Save your image by selecting "File" > "Export" and choosing the file format you want to save it as.

That's it! With these steps, you should now have a vignette effect on your photograph.