Vignette

A vignette is a small decorative design, or a brief descriptive piece of writing. Vignetting is also used to indicate an unintended darkening of the image corners in a photograph. In graphic arts and printing, a vignette design usually incorporates a color gradation.

Vignettes are the literary equivalent of a snapshot. They are usually found in sets, around similar subjects or ideas. These sets do not usually follow a plot, but convey an overall mood, theme, or idea. They usually contain colorful, poetic symbolism and metaphors. They are generally short and to the point, not dwelling too long on anything.

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Vignettes are also the small, coloured stickers affixed to motor vehicles passing through motorways and motorroads in some European nations, such as Switzerland and Austria. The affixing of a Vignette on a motor vehicle indicates that the respective road toll has been paid. Vignettes are often valid for a year.