Textures and Layering

One of the many useful features of Photoshop is combining texture images within another image to give a completely different 'feel' to the final image.  This can have the effect of adding interest and variation to an otherwise 'flat' image. All images need to be set at the same resolution for the effect to be predictable, however images can be re-sized during the procedure.

Original Image

 
I have taken a high key image of stones in the studio that hopefully by adding textures as layers in Photoshop will increase interest and variation.

This image is of cream painted brick and I intend to use it as one of my  texture layers.  As this is taken in landscape orientation, I will need to stretch the image using the free transform function.  The brick will add an overall texture to the image.

I am also going to use my image of fallen Autumn leaves which is also in landscape orientation and will need the same adjustment as the previous texture image. The leaves will add variation and vague shapes to the image.

This first screen shot is that of the stones opened in Photoshop ready to be merged with textures.  I have used a JPEG file that is automatically opened in the layers palette, ready to add the texture layers.

I have chosen a images of cream stone and one of autumn leaves to add the texture layers to my image.  These images are opened by directly dragging the files into Photoshop on top of the original image of the stones.  Separate layers for each image will then be accessible in the layers palette. The texture layers are re-sized by using the free transform option once the images are imported.

In order to blend the images together a 'soft light' layer is chosen which adds a soft diffusion to the texture layers allowing the original image to show through.  A 'layer mask' is then added to the texture layers in order to selectively paint upon them which allows me to reveal the stones minus the texture overlays.  Another layer has also been added in order to use the gradient tool which has allowed me to darken the outside areas of the image.

 The Final Image




















My Evaluation
My conclusion of this feature in Photoshop is that I found it both interesting to use as well as understanding it's worth in digital manipulation. By using the layers constructively, a great amount of detail and variation can be added to an image without taking away it's original structure.

Further texture blending in Photoshop

The original image

The Photoshop manipulated image