What is texture? In essence, texture is a Photoshop layer added to a digital picture. Textures create visual dimension and interest in otherwise dull photos. They can also transform good photos into great photos.

Almost any item can be used as texture. Simply find an object with a texture you like and photograph it. Some of my favorites are the woven covers of old books, which give photos a canvas feel, and textures which make new photographs look old (think of an aged worn building).

If you don’t want to make your own texture there are many websites with free downloadable jpeg files. Here are three I like:

After you’ve chosen your photograph and texture follow these simple steps:

  1. Open Photoshop and open your primary photograph (File –> Open –> choose photograph).

    2. Photograph Without Texture

  2. Leave the primary photograph as is and open your texture photograph (File –> Open –> choose photograph).

    3. Texture Layer

    (Texture courtesy of NinianLif)

  3. Open the layers palette (Window –> Layers); you should see the palette appear on the right side of your screen.

  4. Drag the texture image from the layers palette and drop it on top of your primary photograph.  Alternatively you can use the rectangular marque tool to copy and paste the texture layer over your primary photograph.  Either way you should now see two layers in the palette; a background layer (your primary photograph) and the first layer (your texture photograph).

  5. With the texture layer highlighted in the layer palette click the move tool (this is the tool in the upper left hand portion of your screen that looks like the arrows on a map). Make sure the “Show Transform Controls” box along the top bar is checked. Move and/or enlarge the texture layer so that it covers your primary photograph. Double click over the photographs to transform your changes. Your primary photograph will now be hidden by the texture photograph and look like this.

    6. Primary Photograph and Texture Layer (all you see is the texture because it covers the primary photo)

  6. Now you get to have some fun. Again ensure your texture layer is highlighted in the layers palette. Find the drop down menu in the upper left hand corner of the layers palette that says “Normal.” Open this drop down box and play with the different layering possibilities. My favorites are “Overlay” and “Soft Light”.

    7. Photograph with Overlayed Texture (note how the photo now appears aged compared to the original)

  7. Once you choose your layering style you can adjust the opacity and fill levels to your taste; both found on the upper right corner of the layers palette.
  8. Finally, if there are portions of your primary photograph that you do not want to have layered (i.e. you want the main subject to pop out from the layering) then use your eraser tool to erase these portions on the texture layer.  See the example below:

    9. Baby Photo Without Texture

    Baby Photo With Texture Layer (in overlay mode)

Baby Photo With Texture Partially Erased

    9.  When you are done flatten your image (Layer–>Flatten Image) and save as a jpeg file. If you think you might want to change your layers or add more later don’t flatten image and save it instead as a psd file.

Now that you’re a texturing expert there is no end to what you can do.  Play around with multiple layers over one photograph or see how different textures change the look and feel of your photos.  I’m willing to bet that once you start you’ll be a texture addict!

Shalet Abraham is a mother, veterinarian, blogger and avid amateur photographer. She blogs at Peculiar Momma.

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