Photoshop is one of the best tools a photographer can have at their disposal – especially in the current global climate where going out on new shoots is unlikely for the foreseeable future. Now is definitely the time to be sitting down, going through your archives and experimenting with fun new effects.
One of our favorite Photoshop effects is overlaying textures on our images. It's an incredibly quick and easy way to transform a tired old image into something fresh and exciting.
It's easy to shoot your own textures, but it's even easier to download some free textures online. To help you find the right textures for your next project, we've rounded up our favorite background overlays for you to experiment with.
How to use textures in Photoshop
Textures are a fantastic way to get creative, but you might be wondering how you actually use them. Luckily, incorporating textures into your editing process is incredibly simple.
To use a texture, simply drag it onto the image you're editing in Photoshop. Then, you'll have the ability to resize your texture file so that it's covering the entirety of your background image (to ensure the best image quality for your final piece, you might want to resize the background shot so that it's smaller than the texture file).
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Next, you'll need to change the Blending Mode. You might find that different modes will work better for different photos, so don't be afraid to experiment. However, we find that Screen tends to work best for most images.
You can then adjust the Opacity of your texture layer until you're happy with the results. If you find that the texture layer is obscuring your focal point too much, you can use a layer mask to lessen the impact of the texture in that area. To do that, ensure that you've got the texture layer selected in the Layers box. Then, go down to the bottom and select 'Add layer mask'. Then use the Brush tool in black with 20% Opacity and 0% hardness to gently erase the texture.
The best free textures for Photoshop
To show you just how these free textures work, we've overlaid them on the same image so you can compare the different ones available. Remember that each link has several options to browse, so don't be afraid to explore your options!
This is the base image for the textures we're going to be trying out (Image credit: Louise Carey)
01. Sky backgrounds at Texturify
(Image credit: Louise Carey)
Sky textures can create beautiful effects on portraiture – and Texturify has a vast number of sky backgrounds to choose from. Whether you're after a dramatic sunset or some light fluffy clouds, you'll find what you need here. It's also worth noting that these images will also work well as sky replacements as well!
Bokeh is an instant way to take your images to the next level – especially if they're originally shot in low light situations. Try layering different bokeh textures on top of each other to combine larger bokeh with smaller.
Cracked dirt is a classic texture to experiment with, and we particularly love this one from Free Stock Textures. With over 3,500 downloads, it's clear that this particular background is definitely popular.
The Screen blend mode will hide the darker parts of the texture, while showing the lighter parts. That means that you want to find textures where the light parts are kept to a minimum – but bring maximum impact. This wave texture is the perfect example of that.
This beautiful image of dark leaves is perfect for images where you have a dark background, as it brings out the details in the texture layer while still allowing your photograph to shine.
Nature is a rich source of inspiration for textures and background overlays. This super close-up shot of a leaf covered in water droplets would be a great addition to a portrait shot in nature pre-lockdown.
Flowers are another great natural texture. We particularly like lots of small flowers with a dark background, but another wonderful option is a super close-up detailing the ridges of the petals.
While close-ups are a fantastic option for textures, don't be afraid to try wider landscapes as well, such as this coniferous tree landscape. As long as you have a mostly uniform pattern, you might be surprised by what works.
This classic scratched surface texture is a great way to add some grit and grunge to your photos. Be aware that we inverted the colors of this to make it work, but this is as simple as Image > Adjustments > Invert in Photoshop.
With over a decade of photographic experience, Louise arms Digital Camera World with a wealth of knowledge on photographic technique and know-how – something at which she is so adept that she's delivered workshops for the likes of ITV and Sue Ryder. Louise also brings years of experience as both a web and print journalist, having served as features editor for Practical Photography magazine and contributing photography tutorials and camera analysis to titles including Digital Camera Magazine and Digital Photographer. Louise currently shoots with the Fujifilm X-T200 and the Nikon D800, capturing self-portraits and still life images, and is DCW's ecommerce editor, meaning that she knows good camera, lens and laptop deals when she sees them.
