How to Use Black Mist in PhotoDirector
Give bright lights a soft glow and skin a gentler look, without retouching by hand.
Updated Oct. 25, 2026 · 3 min read
In a hurry? Use the Black Mist quick guide instead.
PhotoDirector's Black Mist effect softens contrast in a photo's highlights and shadows, much like a black mist filter on a camera lens. Bright lights pick up a glow, and skin looks softer. Use it on night scenes, party lights, and portraits when the original feels harsh and you want a softer, film-like finish.
- In PhotoDirector, open Guided & GenAI > Effects > Light / Lens Effects > Lens: Black Mist.
- Pick a Density preset: 1, 1/2, or 1/4.
- Set Threshold, Strength, and Softness.
- Click the side-by-side view button at the bottom left of the canvas to compare Before and After.
- Click Export at the top to save the photo.
Steps to Use Black Mist
Step 1: Open Black Mist
From the PhotoDirector launcher, choose Guided & GenAI.
Click Open at the top left of the canvas to bring in your photo. Then click Effects in the rail on the left and choose Lens: Black Mist under Light / Lens Effects.
Step 2: Pick a Density
Under Density, pick one of three presets: 1, 1/2, or 1/4. The panel opens with 1/2 selected. Choose the preset before adjusting the sliders, because it changes how the effect responds to them. This example uses 1.
Step 3: Adjust the Sliders
Three sliders shape the effect. Threshold starts at 50, and Strength and Softness at 20. This example raises Strength to 67 so the string lights get a clear glow.
| Slider | What it does |
|---|---|
| Threshold | Sets which parts of the photo get the effect. Drag it right to keep the effect on the brightest areas, or left to spread it further. |
| Strength | Sets how strong the effect is. Raise it for a more visible glow, or lower it for a subtle one. |
| Softness | Sets how soft the effect looks on the bright areas, such as lights and highlights. |
Step 4: Compare Before and After
Click the side-by-side view button, the second icon at the bottom left of the canvas. The original and the edited photo appear next to each other, labeled Before and After. Check the lights and skin, then go back to the sliders for more or less glow.
To start over, click Clear at the bottom of the panel. It sets Density back to 1/2 and the sliders back to 50, 20, and 20, and the effect stays on at those values.
Step 5: Export the Photo
When the glow looks right, click Export at the top of the window to save the photo.
The Result
In the example photo, each string light has a soft halo, the highlights on the faces and shoulders look softer, and the night sky stays dark.
We tested these steps in PhotoDirector 365 version 18.0.10 on Windows.
Don't have PhotoDirector yet? Soften harsh contrast and give the lights in night shots a gentle glow.
Download PhotoDirector Free →FAQ About Black Mist
It lowers the contrast in the highlights and shadows, the way a black mist filter on a camera lens does. Bright lights get a soft glow, and skin looks softer.
Start with 1/2, the preset selected when the panel opens, then try 1 and 1/4 on your photo. The preset changes how the sliders act, so set Threshold, Strength, and Softness after you choose it.
Use Threshold. Drag it right to keep the effect on lights and other bright areas. Or drag it left to spread the effect to more of the photo.
