If you don’t know how to add texture in Photoshop or do it unnaturally, check out the best and easiest way of adding background and overlay textures in your photos in several clicks.
First, I’ll show you how to add texture as background to your photos. You should have a 2024 Photoshop version. Marble and wood texture would suit my photo the most, but since I have wooden objects in the photo, I went for a white marble texture.
Using the Quick Selection Tool (W) select the object in your photo. After that, find “Select and Mask” at the top and click on it.
Now, we’ll refine the edge. Adjust the radius, feathering, smoothness and contrast of the edge in the Properties menu.
Next, create a mask, by clicking the third button from the left at the bottom of the Layer’s panel. In such a way you will cut out the object from the photo and remove its background.
Find the desired texture and drag it onto the photo you want to apply it to.
After positioning your texture, move it beneath the layer with the cut-out object.
If you’d like to change the color of your texture, you can do this by adding the Solid Color Adjustment Layer. I decided to change my white marble texture to blue.
In a newly appeared Color Picker window, select the color you like. Click OK.
Select the Brush Tool (B), and make black your foreground color. If there are any imperfections in the contour of the mask, you can easily paint them out.
Sometimes you’ll also need to learn how to add drop shadow in Photoshop to make an image look more natural. In order to do this, click on an "fx" icon that is situated to the right of the layer's name. Find “Drop Shadow” at the bottom of the left panel. Then, all you have to do is customize your drop shadow.
You’ve now successfully changed the background. If this seems too complicated for you, you can always address professional image manipulation services for photographers that can replace the background, add overlays, or transform your photos fast and at an affordable price.
Textures are not only applied as backgrounds to product photos, but can also be used as overlays when photoshopping portraits. Follow the steps below to learn how to use overlays in Photoshop, and apply creative textures to your portraits.
Select the texture you want to use. I’ll be using a grunge texture, since it fits the vibe of the photo the most.
Experiment with the Blend Modes to find the one that you like the most. I’ll be using the Multiply Mode.
If you need to delete the effect from certain areas of the photo, simply create a layer mask, by clicking on the New Layer Mask button at the bottom of the Layer’s Panel.
Select black as your foreground color and paint on the areas, that you don’t want affected. In my case, I’ll paint on the man’s face.
The web is filled with free Photoshop textures but more often their quality is terrible. That’s why I recommend you to download this collection of high-quality textures to enhance your works.
