Textures are amazing tools that can really enhance your photos; taking them from drab to fab in minutes.

Photographs, scans of old paper, fabric and handwritten notes are some of the most common textures used today. With the help of image editing software programs like Photoshop Elements, the use of textures during the photo editing process opens up a window of endlessly creative image-enhancing possibilities. Layered over your own image, a texture’s effect is adjusted via blend modes and opacity; giving you complete control over the effect that each layer has on the others.

The end result is a fabulous image.

Using textures to enhance your photos is easier than you’d think. Step-by-step, I’ll walk you through my process of creating the time-worn effect you see in the above image using Photoshop Elements and a few of my favorite textures from Life-n-Reflection.

You’ll find that using textures to enhance your photos is fun and easy.

Using Textures to Enhance Your Photos

Step 1

Open your original photo and texture file in Photoshop.

Step 2

Drag your texture file onto your original image to add it as a layer. (I’m using the Enchanted texture from the Letters to the Nest Ephemera Collection at Life-n-Reflection.) Re-size your texture layer so it completely covers your image. To do this, highlight the Enchanted texture layer in the layers palette, stretch or shrink it until it covers your entire image and hit “enter.”

Step 3

This step seems incredibly long and involved, but it really isn’t. Feel free to use as little or as many textures as you’d like in order to achieve the effect you’re looking for, then proceed to the next step.

Now this is where things get fun! Adjust the blend mode of your texture layer in the layer palette. (Blend modes are used to determine how the layers are blended into each other; affecting the overall look and feel of your image.) Get creative. Experiment with different blend modes and adjust opacity levels until you’ve achieved a desirable effect.

I used the “soft light” blend mode on my Enchanted texture layer and lowered the opacity to 50%. (Soft light blend mode multiplies dark tones and screens light tones.) I liked the effect, but was hoping to achieve a warmer, vintage and time-worn feel to my photo so I added yet another texture layer.

The Sea Wings texture from the Set Sail Ephemera Texture Collection at Life-n-Reflection Texture Shop was just the thing I needed to achieve a warm, time-worn effect.

I adjusted the blend mode of the Sea Wings texture layer to “multiply” and left the opacity at 100%. (The multiply blend mode darkens the lower layer based on the darkness of the upper layer. White tones become transparent and the image does not get lighter.)

Then, I added the Mr. Smith texture from Life-n-Reflection Texture Shop’s Ephemera Texture Pack to add yet another dimension to my image.

I adjusted the blend mode to “overlay”, but the image was too bright for my liking. (The overlay blend mode multiplies light colors and screens dark colors.)

In order to give my new texture layer a more subtle effect, I lowered the opacity to 35%.

I’m a big fan of creating natural, subtle effects with textures and was really pleased with the effect I had achieved at this point so I decided to stop. As you begin to work with textures, play around with different blend modes, opacity levels and multiple layers in order to get a feel for what you like or don’t like. Develop your personal image enhancing style.

Step 4

Once you’ve finished editing your individual layers, select “flatten image” from the layers menu and save your image. (Flattening your image discards any unused layers, merges visible layers into the background and greatly reduces the file size.)

Final Image

The final result is a beautiful photo that has a warm, time-worn feel to it. I couldn’t be more pleased.

(Mouse-over to compare before and after images)

One of the surprising things about using textures to enhance your photos is that the overall process is really simple, but the results are amazing. Textures really are amazing tools that, in just a few minute’s time, can enhance your photos; taking them from drab to fab in a matter of clicks.

Do you use textures to enhance your photos? What are some of your favorite resources for great textures?

*Thank you to Life-n-Reflection for sponsoring my texture tutorial for providing the lovely textures. Truth be told, I love the textures at Life-n-Reflection so much that I purchased a handful with my own money thankyouverymuch. The selection is great, the prices are out-of-this-world cheap and the checkout and download process are a cinch.

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