Add Texture to your design in 3 Easy Steps

Rather than continually repeat these simple steps in every tutorial that uses this technique to apply texture, we’ll save everyone time and get this essential tip out of the way!

The use of textures in design are incredibly important in defining a surface.  While we can not create actual tactile textures in digital design, we can create the visual illustion of 3D texture.  This Tutorial aims to show you an easy way to do just that.

Step 1 – Find a Suitable Texture for your Design

Perhaps you have a photo that you’ve taken yourself, a texture you’ve designed, or maybe you’ve found a free texture to use online.  Whatever the case may be, you’ll need a texture to work with.

If you need help finding a texture, we’ve got a large collection of 99 Free Stock Textures which you’re welcome to browse through!

Once you find a texture, Copy > Paste it into a new layer in your design.  The texture layer should usually be on top of every other layer in your design (or at least the layers you want to apply the texture to).

Transform the Texture to fit your canvas.

Step 2 – Desaturate

Desaturate your texture layer (Image > Adjustments > Desaturate).  We only want to apply the texture over our design, not the color from the texture.

Step 3 – Set to Overlay

Now, set this layer to Overlay.  This will screen (brighten) all of the shades brighter than 50% gray in your texture, while multiply (darken) any shades darker than 50% gray, thus giving the illusion of light passing over your design for a more tactile appearance!

Adjust the opacity of your texture layer to increase or decrease the intensity of the effect.