a texture use guide

Texture Use Guide.




Requested by funsized.

Textures are a very versatile tool to have in graphics-making. In an instant, they can add definition to a picture, punch up color, or provide a very interesting background. My icons, while minimal most of the time, feature textures pretty heavily. The more I experiment with them on my icons, the more I like to use them. I don't really have a rhyme or reason when I add textures to my icons. Most of the time, I'm opening various textures and pasting them onto my layers at different opacities and blending modes until I eventually land on something I like. As always, experimentation is key.

Most of the icons that I've added textures to have resulted from experimenting. There isn't a tried and true method for working with textures, I've found -- it's mostly just about finding the right ones out there and seeing what you come up with. Below, you'll find examples of some texture use on my own icons. I'll do my best to explain what I was trying to achieve.

This guide was created in Photoshop CS2 -- but can be translated to other programs.

1. Creating an Interesting Background

99% of the time when I use textures, it's to spice up the background of a person or object. The whole point is to make the icon more eye-catching and unique. Some examples:



1a) In the first example, my goal was to give the icon a vintage-y look. The black and white color of the icon against the frame and the various grungy textures (set to Multiply or Darken) set the icon off nicely - while adding definition to the background. It looks almost like an old photo.

2b) In the second example, I wanted to add an interesting background behind Michelle. In this case, it's easier to achieve if the background is solid to begin with -- and then all you do is paste your texture on set at Multiply, Darken or Color Burn. Choose textures that have shapes, text or designs on them to achieve this look. Which takes us to our third example...

3c) The background behind Thirteen was solid to start with, so adding the texture behind her gave it an interesting look - kind of the same principal as the second example.

2. Intensifying Color

Textures can be really useful in creating color when you've tried all the other methods. This especially rings true on Supernatural icons. When I can't seem to pull out any color using any old coloring technique I turn to textures (again, the grungier the better) to add extra punch when adjustment layers and color fills can't seem to do the trick. An example:



1a) Searching through my most recent icon posts, I had a hard time finding an example for this one -- I'll admit I don't really use textures that much for punching up color - I really rely heavily on adjustment layers and whatnot for this -- but the one icon I did find really showcases what a texture can do for color. This icon, from SPN: Everybody Loves a Clown, was really bland to start with, no color whatsoever. No matter what I did I couldn't bring out the natural tones of Dean's face or intensify the color of the sky. So, adding textures (again at Multiply, Darken or Color Burn) really punched up the areas that I wanted and made a really nice icon. Dean's face looks natural and the sky is bluer.

3. Add your own Background

This is what I use textures the most for. Negative space is an obsession of mine. I love the way it looks and I love creating it. There's something about all that space around your subject that makes an icon look really cool. Adding textures to this space? Icing on the cake. Some examples:



1a) On this icon of Thirteen, I extended the background behind her, filled in with color and then added a grungy texture on Multiply or Soft Light to give the background a little punch.

2b) On the second example I cut out Cuddy from the original base and pasted her onto a gray grungy texture. This was useful when I added the text because the texture brought out Cuddy and enhanced the text. Always a bonus. With this method, a texture can be useful, especially when you are adding text to an icon. More often than not, I can't make text stand out -- pasting my picture onto a texture 'base' really made the text more clear and readable. Which is what I wanted.

3c) Another example of cutting your subject from its original base and pasting them/it onto a texture. In this case, the expression on Pam's face really complemented the texture behind her. The texture is kind of quizzical - kind of like Pam's expression, LOL. :)

4. Adding Light

I'll admit that I don't use light textures that often. If I do, I end up desaturating them. I rarely, if ever, use light textures without desaturating them. For some odd reason, I find that color with a light texture looks odd. But, I've been known to contradict myself on occasion. Here's some examples of icons I've made using a light texture of some sort:



1a) On the first example, I contradicted what I said above, LOL. This is actually the only time I've used a light texture in color, believe it or not. The icon just called for it, I guess. The sparkly lights alongside Ali's face seemed to enhance the colors of the background and really bring her out. At least to me it did. These types of textures you want to set to Screen or Soft Light -- these blend modes don't affect the general colors of your icon. Instead, you will get a more blended look, which is what you want when you use light textures. Light seamlessly blending with the background is a really pretty effect. I've seen others pull this off more effectively than I do, though. LOL. :D

2b) The texture I used on this Sylar icon had light on it already. I thought it looked sort of like a spotlight and thought it was appropriate for the subject. Harsh bright light can make us uncomfortable and I thought Sylar looked especially...uncomfortable in this scene, LOL. The texture really enhanced the feel of the icon -- being put on the spot. I set this texture to Screen, I believe, to bring out that harsh light.

5. Brushes --- used as textures

A technique I've recently begun to utulize. I've seen other iconmakers do this and it always impresses me. And I'll admit, in my last few icon posts I've abused this effect, LOL. Basically, you need a brush that looks texture-like. For instance:



1a) Clearly, I'm loving this grid brush. :) To create the effect on these icons, I painted the grid on with the flow of my brush at a lowered opacity. I then set the layer to Screen and lowered the opacity of the layer itself. I then copy-merged the icon and set it Soft Light to enhance the brightness and contrast of the brush. Pretty simple. The icons look like you pasted a texture onto them, but it's really a brush. Different tool, but basically achieves the same effect a texture would.

6. Finding the Right Textures

There are so many resources out there when it comes to finding the perfect textures to add to icons. The resource makers I download the most textures from:

sanami_276 @ownthesunshine -- Hands down the best resource maker out there. Her textures are always unique, creative, colorful and varied. You'll never get the same textures twice -- there's always something different. The folder I have designated for her textures is the largest of all my texture folders, LOL.

_iconographer -- She makes the best grunge and light textures out there right now. My second fullest texture folder. :)

lookslikerain @soaked -- Also a good resource for grungy textures.

colorfilter -- I don't think she updates anymore, but the stuff she has available is awesome. A very nice variety of pretty much anything you can imagine texture-wise.

There are also some newer makers out there that have just started out with texture making that I felt were worth mentioning:

daynawashere @gosh_darn_icons -- She's only posted one set so far but I'm very impressed with the selection and the variety the set has to offer. You can check it out here.

spuzz @morbid_girls -- She's posted two sets that I know of so far, and both are just so beautiful and creative. You can check them out here and here.

7. Resources around LJ

And of course there are communities around LJ dedicated solely to textures and resources in general. Here are the ones I love most:

freshmakers -- An elite resource community - the best of the best. A must to have friended if you want the best textures/brushes/resources on LJ right now.

texturize -- A general texture community -- anyone can post and the variety is mind blowing.

textures_r_us -- Another general texture community.

icon_extras -- General resource community.

resourcelove -- General resource community.

This concludes our guide, LOL. I hope I've managed to help out in some way here -- I feel like I wasn't detailed enough, LOL. Comments and feedback are, as always, appreciated.