Fade all sides of image??

**MktgGeek** · 13 April 2007, 01:51 AM

Hi,

I tried to do a search on this, but I don't know what to call the effect. I want to do something like this:

http://media.point2.com/p2a/htmltext...a/original.jpg

It's probably very simple in Xara - I just want all four edges faded out. But, I can't figure out how.

Any help would be appreciated!

**Egg Bramhill** · 13 April 2007, 02:07 AM

MktgGeek,

Just create a rectangle slightly larger than your photo. Fill colour green for now.
Send to back.
Centre the photo and the rectangle.
Select just the photo.
Drag the Feathering slider to suite.
Change the fill colour of the background rectangle to white.

See attached xar file

**Soquili** · 13 April 2007, 02:09 AM

Feathering the edges will create the effect.

The attachment was created using a black filled rectangle, a white filled rectangle, and the imported clipart photo. Apply an 11 pixel feather to the photo.

The .xar file is attached.

EDIT: I see Egg has already answered your question. I'm getting slow

**Egg Bramhill** · 13 April 2007, 02:13 AM

Yes Bill, but we both used the same photo .... Da da da da da... da da da da da and other spooky music.

**MktgGeek** · 13 April 2007, 02:24 AM

So, it's called feathering. Great! And thanks to both of you for the examples. I knew it would be something embarassing. But, it's just like a dictionary where you can't look something up unless you already know how it's spelled.

Thank heaven for this forum!

How did it happen you both used the same photo - someone must have sent out a memo

**Soquili** · 13 April 2007, 02:25 AM

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...htZoneLogo.jpg

Tune in next week when Egg beams his thoughts into Bill's one remaining brain cell

**aridzone** · 13 April 2007, 02:27 AM

Bill and Egg you both beat me to it

But in other graphics programs its called a vignette effect.

**jamesmc** · 13 April 2007, 03:15 AM

It's called Gaussian, Radial and Edge Effects Blur in some bitmap programs.

It's also a quick way to make a montage of photos if you want place them together.

**MktgGeek** · 13 April 2007, 03:36 AM

Wow, it was much easier when it was just feathering! I'll have to add these terms to my list!

**Ross Macintosh** · 13 April 2007, 10:05 AM

Traditionally it has been called a Vignette effect.

If feathering works for you, that is great. It's problem is it only feathers a fairly narrow strip around the image that may not suit all your vignette-making needs.

One thing I'll often do with the feathering approach is start by drawing a rectangle on top of the pic. Then I apply to that rectangle the rounded corner feature, adjusting the size of those round corners to my liking. I then intersect the pic and the rounded-corner rectangle so my pic will now have rounded corners. Then when I apply the full feathering I get an enhanced vignette effect.

More often than using feathering I will draw rectangles on top of the image and then use linear transparencies to give fades from each edge. (Note: The colour of rectangle used depends on the background colour the vignette will be used on). This linear transparency approach gives considerably more control than feathering.

I attach a soft vignette I made a long time ago in Xara Xtreme. It features Joroho's beautiful daughter. The vignette was made using numerous transparencies -- both linear and some eliptical.

Regards, Ross