What this effect does
Finishing FX break the telltale signs of AI output: overly smooth skin, uniform lighting, missing atmosphere, and edges that feel pasted. Layered post-FX adds texture, depth cues, and intentional imperfection so the image reads like finished anime key art.
When to use it
- Character portraits that look too clean or stock-photo smooth
- Battle scenes missing energy, dust, or environmental depth
- Gacha or JRPG splash art that needs polish before export
- Light novel covers that need cinematic mood without repainting
- Any image you plan to post, print, or ship as a creator asset
Step-by-step workflow
- 01
Generate your base in Image Studio
Start with a locked character reference and a scene prompt. Export the best generation to Assets — FX Studio works on finished generations, not mid-prompt drafts.
- 02
Open the image in FX Studio
From Assets, pick your image or use Enhance in FX Studio. Keep the original artwork layer locked at the bottom of your stack.
- 03
Add a subtle vignette or light leak
Pull the viewer's eye to the face or action focal point. Use Intensity around 40–60% so the effect supports the image instead of dominating it.
- 04
Layer film grain or paper texture
Break up large smooth surfaces — skin, sky, walls. Subtle Texture or Natural style presets work well for anime without making the image look dirty.
- 05
Match warmth to your scene
Cool scenes (night, moonlit, cyber) need negative warmth. Warm scenes (sunset, fire, indoor tungsten) need a slight warm push so overlays feel integrated.
- 06
Review at 100% zoom before export
Toggle layers on and off. If removing a layer makes the image obviously better, the intensity was too high.
Best Studio settings
- Vignette · Intensity 45%
- Darkens edges; keeps focus on character face or weapon.
- Film Grain · Subtle Texture
- Adds micro-detail; use sparingly on close-ups.
- Light Leak · Soft Glow
- Cinematic anime look; great for LN covers and key visuals.
- Warmth · ±15
- Align overlay color temperature with your base lighting.
Common mistakes
- Stacking every effect at full opacity — the image gets muddy fast
- Adding heavy grain on already noisy AI output
- Using cool light leaks on warm fire scenes (or vice versa)
- Skipping the base image review — fix composition in generation first
- Exporting without checking layer order (glow should usually sit above base, below sharp FX)
Export tips
- Export PNG at full resolution for covers and splash art
- Keep a copy of the un-enhanced base in Assets for A/B comparisons
- For social posts, a slightly stronger vignette reads better at phone size
- PSD export (coming soon) will let you refine layers in Clip Studio or Photoshop