A radial gradient in Lightroom is an oval mask that lets you change exposure, contrast, and color inside or outside a chosen area. Place it around your subject, then brighten the inside or darken the outside slightly, and the eye is drawn to the person or object you care about.
What the Tool Does
Local adjustments change one part of the image instead of the whole frame. The radial gradient is built for round shapes such as faces, flowers, or a lone tree. It has a feathered edge, so changes fade gradually and avoid a harsh outline. In recent versions you find it under Masking, and the older Radial Filter works in a similar way.
Step-by-Step Setup
- Finish your global edits first, such as exposure, white balance, and contrast.
- Open Masking and choose Radial Gradient.
- Click and drag from the center of your subject outward to create the oval. Resize or rotate it with the handles until it fits.
- Set Feather to a high value, roughly 60 to 100, for a natural fade. Lower values leave a clearer boundary.
- Decide whether to affect the inside or the outside. Use the Invert option, which swaps the two.
- Adjust sliders gently. A change of about 0.3 to 0.7 stops of exposure, plus a small drop in Highlights or Dehaze, is a typical range to try.
- Toggle the mask overlay (press O) to see the affected area, then turn it off to judge the picture.
Ways to Use It
- Brighten the subject: add a little exposure and clarity inside the oval to lift a face or a bloom.
- Darken the edges: invert the mask and lower exposure to create a soft vignette that is not tied to the corners of the frame.
- Cool the background: shift temperature slightly toward blue outside the oval so a warm subject stands out.
- Calm the background: reduce texture, clarity, or saturation outside the area so distractions fade.
You can add several radial masks in one photo, and each keeps its own settings.
Keep It Natural
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Visible glowing ring | Feather too low or exposure change too large | Raise feather, reduce exposure change |
| Subject looks cut out | Mask shape does not match subject | Resize, rotate, or refine with a brush |
| Skin tone shifts | Color sliders too strong | Lower temperature and tint changes |
FAQ
Can I combine the radial gradient with other masks?
Yes. In the Masking panel you can add to, subtract from, or intersect masks, such as subtracting a Select Subject mask so the subject is excluded from a background change.
Is this the same as a vignette?
It is similar, but a standard vignette is centered on the frame. A radial gradient can sit anywhere and take any shape, which is useful for off-center subjects.
The Short Version
Drag an oval around your subject, use a generous feather, and make small changes inside or outside the shape. Check the mask overlay, then turn it off and make sure the result looks natural.
