Textures and Layers

You can do a lot of special effects with Textures. Photoshop does have Textures, but there are many more available for download absolutely free. You will find 30 excellent Textures here

You can download them all at once if you pay a small free. If you download them one by one they are free. I will also be using a few Filters, but all of them are found in Photoshop.

This is the effect I have in mind.

Here are some of the 30 Textures you can download

We will also need a free stock image. I will be using this one.

You can download it from here

Step 1 : The first thing to be done is to cut out the figure from the background and place it on a new layer. You can use the Refine Edge 

or the Magnetic Lasso

or the Pen Tool

The image looks like this.

Step 2 : Press CTRL+CLICK the New Layer icon. A new Layer 1 forms below the Background copy layer.

Step 3 : The Foreground Color should be set to the default Black.

Step 4 : Press ALT+BACKSPACE to fill with the Foreground Color which is Black in this case.

The image looks like this.

Step 5 : I have opened this Texture in Photoshop. You can download it from here

Step 6 : Press v for he Move Tool. Press Shift. Drag the Texture onto the image.

Step 7 : Zoom out. Press CTRL+T for Free Transform.

Step 8 : Drag the middle handles inward to resize the Texture. Press ENTER to apply the transformation.

Step 9 : Drag the Texture Layer (Layer 2) over the model's image (Background copy layer).

Step 10 : Press ALT and click on where the small white hand points to clip Layer 2 with Background copy layer beneath it. As soon as the layer is clipped you will find a downward pointing arrow next to the layer thumbnail on the left.

Step 11 : The image looks like this. Zoom out.

Step 12 : Click to change the Blend Mode to Hard Light.

The image looks like this.

Step 13 : Click on Layer 1.

Step 14 : I have now opened this Texture. You can download it from here 

Step 15 : Press v and drag the Texture onto the image.

Step 16 : Zoom out. Press CTRL+T for Free Transform.

Step 17 : Drag corner handles inwards. Press ENTER to apply the transformation. Zoom in.

Step 18 : Click the New Layer icon. A new layer forms above the Texture Layer ( Layer3).

Step 19 : Click the bent arrow to change the Foreground Color to White.

Step 20 : Click the Gradient Tool. Click the Radial Gradient in the top panel.

Step 21 : We will be using the Foreground to Background Gradient.

Step 22 : Drag the Gradient Tool diagonally from the middle upwards as shown.

The image looks like this.

Step 23 : Change the Blend Mode to Overlay.

The image looks like this.

Step 24 : Go to Filter> Distort >Wave.

Step 25 : In the wave dialogue box I have increased the Max slider to 125. You can see the Preview at left how the effect looks. Click OK.

The image looks like this.

Step 26 : Change the Foreground Color to Black.

Step 27 : Go to Filter >Sketch>Halftone Pattern.

Step 28 : The Halftone Pattern opens. Click OK with the default settings.

The finished image.

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Bizarre Colors

Let us use and ordinary image to see what we can do with layers, texture, Blend If and Adjustment Layers to create a poster with bizarre colors. None of the steps are hard and fast and you have room to experiment.

This is the effect I will be creating.

Step 1 : I will be using this free stock photo which you will find here

It belongs to Eurominionius

Step 2 : Duplicate the Background layer by pressing CTRL+J.

Step 3 : Press CTRL+I to invert Layer1.

The image looks like this.

Step 4 : Double click Layer 1 where shown by the small white hand to bring up the Blending Options. 

Step 5 : Note the two White Sliders under Blend If -- This Layer and Underlying Layer. Drag them to the left. As you drag you will notice the numbers changing. With the White sliders in this position for this particular image, let us see what it looks like.

Step 6 : We can see that the image has returned to its original color. We are Blending this layer with the one below if the contents are Gray.

Step 7 : Press ALT and you will be able to split the White sliders. Drag half of it to the extreme right and see the change in the image,

The image looks like this.

Step 8 : Press ALT, split the White slider and move half to the right in the Underlying Layer.

The image looks like this.

Step 9 : Click on Gradient Overlay. Change the Blend Mode to Overlay. The Gradient is set at the default.

Step 10 : Click on the Gradient to bring up the Gradient Presets.

Step 11 : I have clicked on Orange, Yellow, Orange Preset.

The image looks like this. If you had clicked on a different Gradient Preset it will look different. You can use any of the Presets. Click OK in the Gradient Editor. Click OK in the Blending Options.

Step 12 : Download this Texture. You will find this here
Open it in Photoshop.

Step 13 : Pres v (shortcut for Move Tool). Drag the Texture onto the image.

Step 14 : Zoom out. Press CTRL+T for Free Transform.

Step 15 : Press SHIFT+ALT. Drag a corner handle and you will be able to resize proportionately.

Step 16 : Let go of SHIFT+ALT. Drag the middle handles in. Press ENTER.

Step 17 : The Texture Layer is Layer 2. It sits right at the top of the layers. Drag it below Layer 1.

The image looks like this.

Step 18 : We are currently on Layer 2. Press SHIFT and click on Layer 1. Both layers are highlighted.

Step 19 : Press CTRL+G. The two layers are now grouped together in Group 1 Layer.

Step 20 : Click the Layer Mask button and a Layer Mask forms on Group 1 Layer.

Step 21 : The Foreground/Background Colors should be set to the default Black/White.

Step 22 : Click the Brush Tool.

Step 23 : Click in the top panel where the white arrow points to reveal the Brush controls. Set the Hardness to 0. To increase the size of the Brush press ] (right square bracket) and [ (left square bracket) to make it small.

Step 24 : Zoom into the image. Click the Brush Tool again. Paint on the eyes to reveal the original color.

Step 25 : Paints the eyes and lips to reveal the original color.

Step 26 : Click on the New Fill or Adjustment button and click on Curves.

Step 27 : The Curves Adjustment Layer forms.

Step 28 : We will be adjusting the Red, Green and Blue Channels, not the RGB.

Step 29 : First the Red channel. Set three points on the diagonal, one in the middle and the other two  on the top and bottom and make a slight S curve.

Step 30 : In the Blue channel place the cursor in the middle and drag up.

Step 31 : Lastly drag the Green diagonal down.

Step 32 : Change the Blend Mode to Multiply.

The finished image.
Other photoshop tutorials are here

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