How to use patterns/textures

Welcome to the "How to use textures" tutorial. Here, I will do my best to explain how to use textures on images in Photoshop CS2 (since it's the version I have, I don't know how other versions work).

First, open an image in Photoshop. I will be working with this one: click for image.

Next, create a new layer and rename it "texture" (click for image).
Note: it is not compulsory to rename the layer, but I like to keep things organized.

After that, open your texture in Photoshop. I used this one: click for image. Press Ctrl + A, then Ctrl + C, or Select All, then Copy from the Edit menu. You can close this image now, you won't be needing it any more. Now, go to the first image and make sure you have the "texture" layer selected. Press Ctrl + V or select the Paste command from the Edit menu. Here's what you should have: click for image.

Here comes the more fun part. Just play with the layer blending modes, opacities and fills until you get the wanted combination. Here are some examples of how it works: I used the Soft Light blending mode here (click for image) and the Overlay blending mode here (click for image).


This tutorial was written by Olivia. No part may be reproduced without the author's approval.
Pictures used are: Sailor Moon © Naoko Takeuchi and texture © Sacralia