How to Apply Vignette Effect to Video with FFmpeg

This article provides a quick guide on how to use the FFmpeg vignette filter to add a classic, darkened border effect to your videos. You will learn the basic command structure, how to adjust the intensity and size of the vignette, how to change its center point, and how to customize its aspect ratio for different video dimensions.

The Basic Vignette Command

To apply a standard vignette effect to a video using FFmpeg, use the -vf (video filter) flag followed by the vignette filter.

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "vignette" output.mp4

This command applies the default vignette parameters, which gently darkens the corners of the video frame.

Customizing the Vignette Parameters

The vignette filter allows you to control several parameters to get the exact look you want. The most commonly used options are:

• angle (or a): Controls the lens angle. This essentially adjusts the size and intensity of the vignette. The value is expressed in radians (default is PI/5). Smaller values create a larger, darker vignette that reaches closer to the center, while larger values push the vignette further to the edges.
• x0 and y0: Sets the center coordinates of the vignette. By default, it is centered (w/2 and h/2).
• aspect: Adjusts the aspect ratio of the vignette. By default, it matches the input video’s aspect ratio.

Adjusting Intensity and Size

To make the vignette more pronounced (smaller circle, darker edges), decrease the angle parameter. For a subtle effect, increase the angle.

Strong Vignette Effect:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "vignette=angle=PI/6" output.mp4

Subtle Vignette Effect:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "vignette=angle=PI/3" output.mp4

Changing the Center of the Vignette

If your subject is not in the center of the frame, you can move the vignette center using the x0 and y0 parameters.

To shift the center of the vignette to the top-left quadrant of the video:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "vignette=x0=w/4:y0=h/4" output.mp4

Changing the Vignette Shape (Aspect Ratio)

By default, the vignette stretches to match your video shape. If you want a perfectly circular vignette on a widescreen video, you can set the aspect parameter to 1:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "vignette=aspect=1" output.mp4

Creating a Dynamic (Pulsing) Vignette

FFmpeg allows you to use mathematical expressions with the eval=frame parameter to animate the vignette over time. The following command uses the sine function (sin) and the time variable (t) to make the vignette pulse:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "vignette='angle=PI/4+sin(t)*0.1':eval=frame" output.mp4