Texture Blending 101

Step-by-Step Guide to Texture Blending

Texture blending is a fun way to get creative with your photos and transform them into something new and unique. In a nutshell, all you need to add textures is an image editor that supports layers, such as Adobe Photoshop. Some other editors, such as Luminar, have a built-in texture blending feature. Here are the basic steps to get you started, aka “Texture Blending 101.”

• Open a photograph in your image editor, such as Adobe Photoshop
• Drag a texture image file from a browser window (I use Photo Mechanic) onto the image editor, or use the “Place Embedded” command in Photoshop and choose a texture file. Note that high-resolution texture images work best, as they won’t produce artifacts during resizing.
• Size the image to fit over your original photo and press Enter on your keyboard
• In the Layers panel, blend the texture by changing the blending mode to something other than Normal. Try Multiply, Overlay, Screen, or Hard Light modes for starters. Then adjust the layer opacity to blend in the texture and reveal the photo underneath it.
• You can also use Layer Masks to blend the texture in. Use brushes to “paint” out the texture from areas of your photo you wish to reveal.
• Don’t stop there! Try using multiple texture layers, too!
• Once you’re finished, adjust contrast and color on the final image. You can also finish your images in Lightroom after saving them.

Get Textures!

I’m pleased to offer four different royalty-free texture packs.

• Luminescent Painterly Textures
• Abstract Painterly Textures
• Digital Painterly Textures
• Digital Painterly Expansion Set

Each set of textures includes high-resolution (24 megapixel) royalty-free images and a PDF quick-start guide.