Creating Textures, Patterns, and Backdrops
Sometimes, even an extensive library of stock images can’t provide that one special design aesthetic that you’re looking for. That’s when you can leverage Photoshop’s textures, gradients, and patterns to turn a dull image into one that bursts with energy and visual interest.
Textures add a certain feel to a surface, which can be random or consistent, and by using them as a subtle backdrop to your visuals, you can avoid the mundane feel of a solid color. Ranging from natural surfaces such as wood and stone to steel mesh, textures are diverse. In the first section of this chapter, we will look at techniques to create textures from scratch and apply them to an image as a fill, or with a painting tool.
Gradients combine two or more colors, blending them together smoothly, like a sunset that blends a deep blue to warmer orange and red tones on the horizon. Gradients are useful to add emphasis or atmosphere to an...
