When a screen feels like too much
Start gentle. Adjust it yourself.
Vignetselective screen dimmer
A selective screen dimmer for Windows
Computer screen too bright? Dim the edges, not the centre.
Vignet is a PC screen dimmer app that softens the outer display while the area you use stays clear. Run it alongside f.lux or Night light — your colour temperature stays unchanged.
Windows available now · macOS planned · One payment. No account, subscription or usage tracking.
- Screen dimmer for PC
- Works alongside f.lux
- $3.99 once
Quick answer
Five ways to make a Windows screen darker than its current minimum
Start with the hardware: lower Windows brightness, then check the monitor controls. If the screen is still too bright, use dark mode or a software filter. Choose Vignet when the centre is already readable and it is the bright outer rectangle you want to soften.
1. Lower the Windows brightness slider
Open Settings, choose System, then Display. Use the Brightness slider if Windows shows one. This changes the panel backlight on supported laptop displays, but it cannot go below the minimum set by the display.
2. Check the monitor itself
For an external monitor, use its physical controls or a DDC/CI utility. This can lower the monitor's real backlight, but only within the range the hardware exposes.
3. Reduce bright content or change its colour
Dark mode changes compatible apps and Night light warms the colour. Both can make a screen feel less bright, but neither lowers the display backlight.
4. Try Windows 11 Screen tint
On supported, updated Windows 11 PCs, Screen tint in Settings > Accessibility adds a full-screen colour overlay with adjustable intensity. It is free and worth trying first when you want the whole display treated evenly.
5. Add selective software dimming
A software filter can darken what you see after the hardware reaches its limit. Most filters dim the whole screen. Vignet is different: it fades the outside while leaving a clear area in the middle.
Which method changes what?
Use the simplest method that solves the problem. These controls are complementary, not interchangeable.
| Method | What changes | Best when | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows / monitor brightness | Physical backlight | The entire display is too bright | Stops at the hardware minimum |
| Night light or f.lux | Colour temperature | You want warmer light | Not selective edge dimming |
| Windows 11 Screen tint | Full-screen colour overlay | You want a built-in, even treatment | Availability varies; it is not selective edge dimming |
| Full-screen software filter | Every visible pixel | Hardware is already at minimum | Also darkens the content you read |
| Vignet | Outer screen light | The centre is fine; the edges feel bright | Does not change the backlight |
Keep the middle. Dim the rest.
Hold the compare button to return to a flat illustration. Release it to see selective edge dimming, then inspect how width and strength change the shape.
Tonight's work
Vignet is on
Soft edges. Clear centre.
A screen tweak small enough to forget — and obvious when you switch it off.
Start with a preset
This preview runs only inside the page. The Windows app applies the effect to your primary display.
The app you get
Three controls. One visible effect.
This is the current Windows app. Strength sets how dark the fade becomes, range sets how far it reaches, and softness controls the transition. Close the controls and the overlay stays quietly on your desktop.
What selective dimming does — and does not do
Vignet does
- • keep an adjustable clear area in the centre;
- • let you tune strength, range and softness;
- • toggle instantly with Ctrl + Alt + V;
- • keep settings locally without an account.
Vignet does not
- • lower the monitor's physical backlight;
- • support more than the primary display in the current release;
- • guarantee identical behaviour in every full-screen or capture app.
One visible change
The content stays the same.
The useful centre stays clear.
The outer light falls away.
Good moments for it
Dark room gaming
Toggle it instantly with Ctrl + Alt + V.
Set it up for someone else
A normal utility. No account or profile.
Long screen days
Made for the hours after the room goes dark.
One price, once
$3.99one-time Windows purchase
- Windows 10 and 11
- No subscription, no account
- No telemetry, no analytics, no ads
- Free updates within this version
Current release scope
Windows 10/11, primary display. Full-screen and capture behaviour can vary.
Signed, installed and updated through Microsoft Store.
Get Vignet in Microsoft Store — $3.99
Secure checkout, installation and updates from Microsoft. Local price shown in Store.
Common questions
My screen is too bright even on the lowest brightness. Does this help?
That is the situation Vignet is built for. It does not lower your monitor's backlight below its minimum; it lays a soft dark fade over the outer part of the picture, so the bright surround drops while the centre stays readable.
Is it like Extra Dim on a phone?
Same intent, different method. Extra Dim darkens the entire display. Vignet darkens only the outside of the screen and leaves the middle as it is, and you set the width, strength and softness yourself.
Does it work with multiple monitors?
The current Windows version applies Vignet to the primary display. Multi-monitor controls are planned, but are not in this release.
Will it affect games or frame rate?
Vignet is a separate click-through overlay and does not inject into the game. Exact behaviour can vary between fullscreen modes, so use the Ctrl + Alt + V hotkey whenever you want it out of the way.
Does it show up in screenshots or video calls?
Capture behaviour can vary by application. Toggle Vignet off with Ctrl + Alt + V before a capture when the result matters.
Which systems?
The current release is available for Windows 10 and 11. A macOS version is planned, but Mac customers cannot purchase it yet.