"Adding a Texture to an Image"

by ©Terry Tasche

Master Photographer and Photographic Craftsman

"Venetian Harbor" ©Terry Tasche

The original image is seen below.

1) Using the Clone tool, first I retouched the image by removing the post under the Gondolier's chin and adding some water between his leg and the Gondola to give some separation, so they are not merged together.

2) This time, instead of painting the image, we will simply add a texture to it.

3) Let's start by selecting a texture. I chose a muted brown texture, which I had in my textures folder. It has been cropped to be the same size as the Venetian Harbor image. This way the two images will align together perfectly. Determine the size of the original image by choosing the Crop tool. Look at the options bar at the top of the screen and click "Front Image". Presto the size and resolution shows up in the width, height and resolution boxes on the left. If the Options Window is not seen, choose Window in the top Menu > Window > Options.

4) Next, with both the original Venetian and texture images open, drag the texture image from the Layers palette over to the Venetian image. While dragging, hold down the option and shift keys. This will place the texture image exactly on top of the other image. This makes two layers: the Venetian Harbor as the bottom background layer, and the texture image as the top layer. Next go to the Blending modes at the top of the Layers Palette. With the top, texture layer selected, choose Overlay from the Blending mode drop-down menu.

5) Voila! That looks pretty interesting.

6) Now let's try adding a different texture to the bacground Venetian image for a different effect. This time I chose a blurry image of fall leaves, first re-sized as we did previously. I took the blurry fall leaves by using a slow shutter speed and moving the camera while taking the picture--f16 at 1/2 second to be exact with the Fuji S3.

7) Drag the texture image over to the Venetian image.

11) In the first image that is seen below I used the Overlay blending mode set at 100% opacity on the 6287leaves layer (see above). In the second image I lowered the opacity to 45% in order to subdue the effect slightly, because I felt that it was a bit overpowering. I also made a layer mask and used the black paint brush to paint across the bottom portion of the image to lessen the effect in the floor tile area. (Note the painting in the mask in the Layers Palette seen above.

 

12) Lowering the opacity of the texture layer to 45% (as seen below) gives the effect of a painted sky.

13) Below we can see the image with both texture layers turned on (because the eye to the left of the layer is seen), using the overlay mode in both.

14) The eye on the left of the layer is turned on so that the AutumnBeauty layer is visible. Then choose the overlay blending mode. By lowering its opacity to 60% and masking out some of the bottom of this texture layer, we get the image seen below.

15) The texture in the floor tiles is reduced further by brushing over the layer mask of each textue layer using a black paint brush on the image itself. Paint over the man's skin (face and arm) with a low opacity black brush to lessen the red color.

16) As you can see, there are many different effects to be created when adding various textures to images. It's pretty fun. Try it! I would love to see the results of your efforts, too!

17) Adding a black stroke around the edge to frame the image added a final touch. I added the black stroke around the border by first creating a New Layer. Choose black as the front color chip. Be sure and select the entire image Command-A (PC: Ctrl-A) so that there is something for PhotoShop to "stroke." Then go to Edit>Stroke>Inside. Set the pixel width for the size of your desired black border.

18) Voila! We're done. Try it along with other magical tools and brushes in the wonderful world of Adobe Photoshop!

"Venetian Harbor" ©Terry Tasche

 

 

P.S. Here is one in which I added an image of large wall stones; but I don't think it looks quite right. I like the others better. The idea is to try and see if it works; if not, then try using a different texture.

 

Other texture images can be made using marble or granite surfaces, bark, gravel, drift wood, feathers, etc., as some of the many possible choices. And, as seen in this tutorial, you can experiment using many different types of images to add to your own original files.

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Terry Tasche is the recipient of both the Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman Degrees. She has won many awards, including the Fuji Masterpiece Award and the Kodak Gallery Award of Excellence, and been published in the Professional Photographer magazine, and in several volumes of the Professioanl Photographers Loan Collection and General Collection Books. She has presented programs at the state, regional and local levels. She is also an Illinois Artisan and named in the top ten photographers in Illinois.