How to Create a Custom Textures Library for Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop uses texture files to create various surface effects. You can access textures through several filter settings to make a layer appear to be anything from sand to wood grain. The key is to have a realistic texture to use for the texture map. You can create your own custom textures library to supplement the textures that Adobe provides.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Locate texture files online. You can usually get textures from scanned images or photographs of textured surfaces on many stock photo sites.

2. Scan textures. You can scan just about any texture, manufactured or natural, including leaves, paper, metal, rock or cloth.

3. Make your own paper textures. Soak a tea bag in warm water and sponge it onto plain drawing paper. Sprinkle some instant coffee or salt and use a hand dryer to fix the colors and patterns. Tear the edges and scan your creation.

4. Load your file into Photoshop and convert it to grayscale. Most Photoshop effects work with the tonal values of the texture, and many of them work only with grayscale images.

5. Save your file in PSD format. While some filters will read GIF and JPG files, some require native Photoshop files to work. Find the Photoshop Applications folder and find the Textures folder inside the Presets folder. Create a new folder to collect your textures library.

6. Apply the texture with any filter that uses texture files. Instead of choosing one of the four standard textures click on the triangle to the right of the Texture settings. The Load Textures dialog will open. Find your textures library folder and load the specific custom texture file.

Resources

• Stock.xchang free high-resolution stock photos