User Guide Cancel

Use the Radial Filter tool

Search
  1. Lightroom Classic User Guide
  2. Introduction to Lightroom Classic
    1. What's new in Lightroom Classic
    2. Lightroom Classic system requirements
    3. Lightroom Classic | Common Questions
    4. Lightroom Classic Key Concepts
    5. Lightroom Classic tutorials
    6. Feature summary | Lightroom CC 2015.x/Lightroom 6.x releases
  3. Lightroom and Adobe services
    1. Creative Cloud Libraries
    2. Using Adobe Stock in Creative Cloud apps
  4. Lightroom for mobile, TV, and the web
    1. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for mobile and Apple TV | FAQ
    2. Sync Lightroom Classic with Lightroom ecosystem
    3. Photoshop family of mobile apps
  5. Import photos
    1. Import photos from a camera or card reader
    2. Import photos from a folder on a hard drive
    3. Import photos automatically
    4. Import photos from Photoshop Elements
    5. Import photos from a tethered camera
    6. Specify import options
    7. Set import preferences
    8. The Filename Template Editor and Text Template Editor
  6. Workflows
    1. Apply Masking in photos
    2. Export and save your photos as JPEGs
    3. Export and watermark your photos
    4. Import your photos
    5. Adjustment Brush: the basics
    6. Adjustments with the Tone Curve
    7. Advanced video slideshows
    8. Control white balance
    9. Create a contact sheet
    10. Enhance your workflow with Lightroom Classic
  7. Workspace
    1. Workspace basics
    2. Set preferences for working in Lightroom Classic
    3. Display the Library on a second monitor
    4. Personalize identity plates and module buttons
    5. Watermark your photos in Lightroom Classic
    6. Color management
  8. Viewing photos
    1. View photos
    2. Browse and compare photos
    3. Set Library view options
    4. Share photos for comments and feedback
    5. Smart Previews
  9. Manage catalogs and files
    1. Lightroom Classic catalog FAQ
    2. How Lightroom Classic catalogs work
    3. Create and manage catalogs
    4. Back up a catalog
    5. Locate missing photos
    6. Create and manage folders
    7. Manage photos within folders
  10. Maps
    1. Work with the Map module
  11. Organize photos in Lightroom Classic
    1. Face recognition
    2. Work with photo collections
    3. Group photos into stacks
    4. Flag, label, and rate photos
    5. Use keywords
    6. Metadata basics and actions
    7. Find photos in the catalog
    8. Work with video in Lightroom Classic
    9. Advanced metadata actions
    10. Use the Quick Develop panel
  12. Process and develop photos
    1. Develop module basics
    2. Create panoramas and HDR panoramas
    3. Flat-Field Correction
    4. Correct distorted perspective in photos using Upright
    5. Improve image quality using Enhance
    6. Work with image tone and color
    7. Masking
    8. Apply local adjustments
    9. HDR photo merge
    10. Develop module options
    11. Retouch photos
    12. Cure red eye and pet eye effects
    13. Use the Radial Filter tool
    14. Use the enhanced Spot Removal tool
  13. Export photos
    1. Export files to disk or CD
    2. Export photos from Lightroom Classic
    3. Publish photos online
    4. Export to hard drive using publish services
    5. Presets for export, and other settings
  14. Work with external editors
    1. External Editing preferences
    2. Open and edit Lightroom Classic photos in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements
  15. Slideshows
    1. Create slideshows
    2. Slideshow module panels and tools
    3. Specify the slide layout
    4. Add overlays to slides
    5. Play and export slideshows
  16. Print photos
    1. Print module basics
    2. Print module layouts and templates
    3. Work with print job options and settings
  17. Photo books
    1. Create photo books
  18. Web galleries
    1. Create web galleries
    2. Use the Web module panels and tools
    3. Work with web gallery layouts
    4. Work with web gallery templates and settings
    5. Preview, export, and upload web photo galleries
  19. Keyboard shortcuts
    1. Keyboard shortcuts

The background or elements surrounding the primary object of your photograph can distract the viewer. To draw attention to the focal point, you can create a vignette effect. The Radial Filter tool enables you to create multiple, off-center, vignetted areas to highlight specific portions of a photograph.

With the Radial Filter tool, you can make local adjustments with an elliptical mask. You can use the Radial Filter tool to draw an elliptical area around the subject, and choose to reduce the exposure, saturation, and sharpness of the portions outside the selected mask.

Lightroom Classic CC Radial filter
The background is too prominent in the image Two Radial Filters applied to the image to accentuate the subject

Note:

Press Shift + M to toggle the Radial Filter tool.

Video tutorial: The Radial Filter tool

The Radial Filter allows you to apply selective adjustments to photographs in interesting ways.

Apply a Radial Filter to enhance a photo

  1. In the Develop module, select the Radial Filter tool from the toolstrip.

    Lightroom Classic CC Radial filter tool
    The Radial Filter tool (Shift + M) is available in the Develop module.

    Note:

    The Whites and Blacks sliders are available only in Lightroom CC 2015.1

  2. Do one of the following:

    • To create a Radial Filter, click and drag the mouse across the region of interest. This will draw an elliptical shape, which determines the area that is either affected or excluded from the adjustments you perform.
    • To edit an existing Radial Filter, click any of the gray handles on the photo.
    Note:

    While drawing, press Shift to constrain the Radial Filter to a circle.

  3. To determine what area of the photo is modified, select or clear the Invert Mask checkbox. The checkbox, by default, is not selected.

    • Invert Mask not selected (default): Changing any setting affects the image region outside the marquee area.
    • Invert Mask selected: Changing any setting affects the image region inside the marquee area.

  4. Adjust the size (width and height) and orientation of the Radial Filter added. Select a filter, and:

    • Click and drag the center of the filter to move and reposition it.
    • Hover the pointer any of the four filter handles, and when the pointer icon changes, click and drag to change the size of the filter.
    • Hover the pointer close to the edge of the filter, and when the pointer icon changes, click and drag the edge of the filter to change the orientation.
    Lightroom Classic CC Adjust Radial filter size
    The filter area is represented by an elliptical marquee area.

  5. Use the adjustment sliders (shown in step 1) to create the desired visual changes. Use the Feather slider to adjust the visual falloff of the applied adjustment.

  6. Repeat steps 2 through 5 to continue adding or editing filters.

  7. Click Reset, to remove all the Radial Filters applied to your image.

Keyboard shortcuts and modifiers for the Radial Filter tool

New adjustments

  • Press and hold Shift + drag, to create an adjustment that is constrained to a circle.

Editing adjustments

  • While dragging one of the four handles to resize an adjustment, press and hold the Shift key, to preserve the aspect ratio of the adjustment shape.

Deleting adjustments

  • While an adjustment is selected, press the Delete key to delete the adjustment.

Adjustments with maximum coverage

  • Press Command/Control and double-click an empty area, to create an adjustment that is centered and covers the cropped image area.
  • Press Command/Control and double-click within an existing adjustment, to expand that adjustment to cover the cropped image area.
  • Double-click without pressing the Cmd/Ctrl key commits and dismisses the Radial Filter tool.

More like this

Adobe logo

Sign in to your account

Quick links

View all your plans Manage your plans

Legal Notices    |    Online Privacy Policy