This is the image without any "Vignette" effect.

This is the image with "Vignette" effect

Although the first one had 100% inner edge fade, I still wanted a little more darkness.

For this I created a new SHEET CONTOURS (SEA) and placed it on top, also with edge fade inner.

And this is the effect with double Vignette

Always remember to disable the restrict to the map border option when contouring so that the outer edge fade inner does not affect your image deliberately.

Although I normally add this effect to an image editing program, the other day while playing with CC3, the possibility of exporting the original image with this effect built in came to mind. This effect is Vignette.

In photography and painting is an aesthetic effect that creates a gradual darkening or lightening of the edges of an image or canvas, directing the viewer's attention to the center or to a specific area of ​​the composition. This feature can occur intentionally or accidentally and has different applications and meanings in both contexts.

Some of them are:

Directing the Eye - Vignette is often used to guide the viewer's eye to the point of interest in the image, usually located in the center.

Creating Atmosphere - Darker tones at the edges can create a dramatic or introspective effect, while lighter edges can convey lightness or serenity.

Natural Framing - It acts as a "frame" for the scene, keeping the focus within the composition and reducing peripheral distractions.

Emphasis on Subject - In painting, the use of softer or darker tones at the edges helps to highlight the main subject of the work.

Impression of Depth - The gradual tonal transition can create the illusion of three-dimensionality or that the subject is emerging from the darkness.

Narrative and Drama - Vignettes are used to emphasize emotional or symbolic context, reinforcing feelings of isolation, mystery, or introspection.

Natural Focus - In the absence of digital vignettes, artists use brushstrokes or color choices to soften the edges of the composition, naturally guiding the eye.

To achieve this effect, I used Mike Schley's Contours sea, moving the SHEET above all the icons in the image. After that, an inner edge fade is applied to the Contours by adjusting the Edge Width.

Tien Nong Chen – The City of Farmers

Tien Nong Chen and the surroundings towns is the kingdom’s agricultural jewel. With vast fields irrigated by rivers flowing down from the mountains, the city is the kingdom’s hub for grain, medicinal herbs, and rice production. Surrounded by small settlements such as An He (Silence River), Qing Gu (Clear Valley), and Feng Gu (Wind Valley), each of which plays a specialized role in the cultivation and gathering of vital resources.

To the north of the valley lie the logging settlements of Mu Feng (Wind of Trees) and Lin Shui (Water of Forest). The precious timber of the Ancient Forest is a coveted resource, but overexploitation angers the forest spirits, who occasionally manifest themselves in the form of storms or monsters. It is said that the leaders of these settlements hire mercenaries to sabotage each other, increasing instability in the northern region.

With its rich agricultural production and strategic position, this is a place of vital importance to the kingdom, but also a powder keg of political and social strife. For adventurers, the valley offers unparalleled riches and glory—at the cost of navigating betrayal, monsters, and ancient curses.

Local Beliefs

• The Curse of the River: The villagers of An He believe that the river that irrigates their land is protected by a guardian spirit. A farmer who tried to divert the river's course mysteriously disappeared.

• The Golden Rats of Qing Gu: A local legend tells of golden rats that appear during harvest nights. Capturing one would bring infinite wealth, but killing one would bring bad luck for seven generations.

• The Well of Lamentation: Between Tien Nong Cheng and Feng Gu lies an abandoned well. A site of suicides during times of famine, the well echoes with voices on stormy nights.

Recent Events

• Crop Sabotage: Recently, rice fields in Qing Gu were burned overnight. Farmers are suspicious of Feng Gu and have hired willing individuals to investigate and, if possible, retaliate.

• The Fury of the Forest: Angry spirits have begun attacking lumberjacks near Lin Shui. Local leaders are offering a reward to anyone who can appease them—or destroy them.

• A Secret Alliance: Intelligence suggests that An He is negotiating a pact with the northern timber settlements to secure privileges. Uncovering and exposing this alliance could change the balance of power in the valley.

• The Ghost Route: Traders report that an ancient, forgotten road deep within the valley has reappeared, shrouded in mist. Anyone who follows it disappears.

Damn dragon plague, clouds everywhere 🤣

Yuan Lin Zhen – The Original Forest Village

Situated on the edge of a cliff eternally shrouded in clouds, Yuan Lin Zhen, the Original Forest Village, is a haven and strategic point in the vast River and Sea Autonomous Region. This modest-looking village serves as the last stop for travelers and pilgrims who follow the perilous trail to the distant Hei Shan Si Monastery, hidden deep in the Black Mountains.

The village is surrounded by an ancient forest known as Lin Yuan, whose ancient trees reach colossal heights and whose roots penetrate deep into the cliff. The forest is a vital source of income for the villagers, who collect rare herbs and precious woods, such as Hei Mu, a red and hardy wood used in sacred buildings and ritual weapons, as well as having great commercial value. The villagers believe that each tree possesses a spirit, and cutting them down without the proper permission of the local spirits can bring terrible curses.

Importance to the Region

Yuan Lin Zhen is a spiritual and commercial center. The locals offer shelter, supplies, and knowledgeable guides to those who make their way to the monastery. The village’s markets are known for selling rare forest products such as Fei Ying oil and Hei Mu resin. Dark Lotus Powder, extracted from flowers that grow in hidden forest pools, is used in rituals and alchemical concoctions to induce prophetic dreams, and is a coveted item throughout the region.

Dangers and Legends

The forest surrounding the village is not only rich in resources, but also in dangers. Dark creatures such as the Fei Ying, giant crows with flaming eyes, patrol the skies at dusk, attacking the unwary. There are also the Gui Mu, trees that come to life at night, luring travelers with melodic sounds and devouring them as they approach.

One of the oldest legends is that of the Guardian of the Cliff, a misty entity that appears as a hooded warrior. It is said to protect the innocent and punish those who dare disregard the sacred rules of Lin Yuan. Some believe that he is the spirit of a monk who attempted to reach Hei Shan Si but succumbed to the trials of the path.

The Journey to the Monastery

For pilgrims, Yuan Lin Zhen represents the last chance to rest before tackling the treacherous trail to Hei Shan Si. The path is steep, passing over swaying rope bridges and cliffs that disappear into the mist. Despite the dangers, many consider the journey a spiritual test, believing that only the worthy can reach the monastery and receive its blessings.

I tried several ways to make this hostile island look different from the traditional landmass. And it was getting too complex and I didn't like the result. So I decided to go back to basics and work with the least amount of images and functions possible. The result is here, a piece of land forgotten by the Gods.

Shi Ji Dao – The Island of Extreme Losses

This island is a cursed piece of land surrounded by merciless seas. Its skies remain eternally cloudy, as if even the sun refused to illuminate this place. The incessant sound of wind and waves echoes between desolate cliffs, reinforcing the feeling of absolute isolation. A few twisted trees and low vegetation punished by salinity are all that grows there. The inhabitants – or prisoners – live in rotten wooden shacks, supporting themselves with miserable fishing or the precarious cultivation of almost tasteless tubers.

The Island as the Final Destination

On Shi Ji Dao, there is no future, only waiting. Infectious patients, political opponents and traitors to the regime of the capital Tiang Long Du are sent to the island in reinforced-hulled vessels, never to return. The journey there is known as the "Journey of the Last Breath", because no one who crosses the treacherous waves that surround the island returns.

The surrounding waters are a veritable graveyard: razor-sharp reefs pierce vessels, while whirlpools devour even the most skilled swimmers. Even if someone managed to survive the sea, the harsh currents would push them back to the island.

Life in Shi Ji Dao

The inhabitants survive on an unstable barter system, with fishing and gathering being the only viable activities. With no hope of escape, some give in to madness, wandering the island as shadows of their former selves. Others organize themselves into small groups, trying to maintain some form of order. Among the leaders of these improvised communities, storytellers emerge, keeping alive the legends of the island where dreams come to die, but also a stage of forgotten secrets and deadly dangers, which can attract fools or those desperate for redemption.

Legends of Despair

Though devoid of hope, the island is rich in tales of wonder and mystery:

. The Whirlpool of the Drowned Dragon

It is said that deep within a whirlpool north of the island lies the spirit of a dragon who was betrayed and murdered by the ancient emperors. His fury, transformed into ravenous currents, is insatiable. Some nights, the winds whisper promises of power to those willing to descend into the heart of the whirlpool and free the creature.

. Ships of the Dead

On the darkest nights, the hazy shapes of ships appear on the horizon, floating above the turbulent waters. Some believe they are the vessels of those who perished trying to escape, their spirits now doomed to wander the sea. Others say these ships carry artifacts of power, but to board them brings eternal damnation.

. The Cave of the Faceless Guardian

In the heart of the island lies a hidden cave that no one dares to explore. According to the ancients, the Faceless Guardian lives there, an entity that exchanges favors for memories. The few who have tried to bargain with him have returned without knowing their own names, with empty eyes and consumed hearts.