How to Use Textures in Adobe Photoshop

In the following tutorial, we will learn how to use textures in Photoshop. Textures are a great way to add a unique feel to your images and artwork. Logos can be given added dimension with grunge textures. Photos can be aged and weathered down with a vintage look using textures. With so many creative options available, textures become an essential part of designing.

For this tutorial, we chose these crumpled paper backgrounds, and also a grunge overlay texture pack. There is a plethora of texture files to pick from on Design Bundles.

If you would prefer to make your own textures, check out how to create textures in Photoshop.

Step 1 - Import the Texture Images

First, make sure that your texture files have been downloaded and unzipped on your computer. With your design open in Photoshop, select the texture file you want to use and drag its thumbnail onto your image to place it.

Resize the Texture Layer

Once the texture has been placed, you can resize and/or rotate it if needed. Once you are done, hit Enter or click on the small check mark on the top menu.

Turn Texture Layer into Smart Object

By using the drag and drop method, the layers will automatically turn into Smart Objects. These should have an X inside the bounding box when selected. A small icon should also be visible on the bottom left corner of the thumbnail in the Layers Panel.

You can turn your layer into a smart object later on by right-clicking on top of its thumbnail in the Layers Panel. Then choose Convert to Smart Object from the drop-down menu.

By converting your texture layers intoSmart Objects, you retain the editability. Changes can be applied non-destructively such as replacing the texture file later on without losing your changes.

Step 2 - Adjust Texture Layer Blending Mode

Next, make sure the texture layer is selected in the Layers Panel then change its Blending Mode. You can also adjust the Opacity if needed. Here, we used Multiply and left the opacity value at 100%.

It is a good idea to experiment with different blending modes. The results will vary depending on your image and texture layer(s) characteristics. The overlapping and combining of layers will also affect the final look of your artwork.

Step 3 - Apply Textures to Part of the Image

You can apply your textures to just a portion of your image, leaving the rest intact. This is achieved in a couple of different ways. One way is to clip the texture layer down with a Clipping Mask, so it will only affect the layer right below. Another way is to use a Layer Mask to hide the unwanted areas.

Clip the Texture Layer

To clip your texture to the image, make sure that it is placed on top of the layer you want to affect in the Layers Panel.

Next, position your cursor between both layer thumbnails and press theOption/Alt key. Your cursor should change to show the clipping icon (a white square with a bent arrow on its left side). Then, click to clip down your texture so it only covers the contents of the layer placed underneath.

Use a Layer Mask

Alternatively use a Layer Mask to hide the texture in some areas of your image. Just select the texture layer thumbnail in the Layers Panel. Then click on the Add Layer Mask button at the bottom.

A white square should appear on the right side of its thumbnail. Make sure that it is selected, and that black is set as your foreground color. Then, use the Brush Tool (B) to hide the portions of the texture you don’t want to show.

We decided that our design looked better with the texture covering the entire design. So we swapped the Foreground and Background colors, then used white on the mask thumbnail to reveal the texture again.

Step 4 - Adjust the Texture Appearance

There are several ways in which you can modify and combine textures to achieve unique results. Like changing the color, overlapping texture layers with different blending modes or adding a 3D look with a drop shadow.

Use Layer Styles

To give your text a slightly embossed look, you can use Layer Styles. Here we selected the Logo layer (the one affected by the texture) and added a Drop Shadow with the following settings.

Blend Mode: Multiply

Color: #000000

Opacity: 35%

Angle: 90º

Use Global Light: Checked

Distance: 3 px

Spread: 0%

Size: 3 px

Contour: Linear

Antialiased: Unchecked

Noise: 0%

Change the Color with Adjustment Layers

The color of the texture layer can also be changed. Create a new Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer on top. Next, clip it down using the small button at the bottom of the Properties Panel.

Use Different Blending Modes

You can also achieve unique results by combining texture layers and blending them together.

For example, we added a new texture to our document. It was placed on top of the background layer so that it would only affect the background.

Then we changed the Blending Mode to Subtract. The texture changed from a negative image (white details on top of a black background) to a positive version (black details on top of a white background). Now only the dust and scratches showed.

Next, we added a third texture layer that was similar, but this time we placed it on top of everything. We then changed the blending mode to Linear Dodge (Add) to get rid of the black background. This left the white dust and scratches.

The color was removed by turning off the adjustment layer. To do this we clicked on the small eye icon on the left side of its thumbnail.

You can also adjust the color and texture by changing the blending mode of the image layer. For example, we changed the blending mode of the Logo layer to Difference to change the text color.

Step 5 - Replace Texture used by Smart Object

As said before, with Smart Objects, you will be able to replace the texture file later on without losing your changes.

Just double-click on top of the icon on the layer thumbnail to open the texture in a different window.

Replace the texture then go to File > Save (Command/Control + S). In some cases, you may be asked to flatten your file before saving.

After the document is saved, the changes should be reflected on your original file. You may need to change the blending mode of the texture layer. This is because the current one may no longer give the desired effect. In our case, we had to change the blending mode to Overlay.

We have just learned how to use textures in Adobe Photoshop. Images and text were given a styled vintage look by overlapping, mixing and blending texture layers.

Below are some of the cool looks we created by mixing textures and using editing options in Photoshop.

If you enjoyed this tutorial, why not have a look at how to use text effects, create a burned wood effect or how to make 3D comic text in Photoshop.