Working with textures and layers

Until now, when working with texture layers I would choose the picture I wanted to work on, then looked around my textures and try to choose the right texture or textures that will work with this particular image. I would then layer the texture/s on the image and if the texture didn’t work I would delete the layer and try a different texture. This process was not only a tedious one but mostly it was strenuous on my PC’s memory (and my patience!).
A few days ago I had an idea to create one file that has all my favorite layers in one place. So I layered 10 of my favorite textures and saved the file as a psd file so all the layers are preserved. The file size is about 90MB so it’s somewhat a large file but it’s not too bad.
Now I open the picture I want to work with and add it as a new layer at the very bottom, underneath all the textures. At this point all there is left to do is play around with the transparency of the various layers, “turn off” (make invisible) the textures I don’t need, until I like what I see. And that’s pretty much it!

(picture was taken on a rainy day in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania where the Continental Army under the commend of General George Washington set camp over the winter of 1777-78)

6 Responses to “Working with textures and layers”

1. christian says:

   November 17, 2009 at 3:32 pm

   Wow, absolutely brilliant, thanks for telling us about it!!!!Duhhh, why didn’t I think of that…just one of those things!:)
2. Andy says:

   November 18, 2009 at 5:14 am

   Agreed… great idea. Thanks for posting it.
3. Trina says:

   November 20, 2009 at 4:19 pm

   Great idea! So simple and brilliant!
4. Tom Harrington says:

   November 23, 2009 at 9:31 am

   Great idea! Thanks!! You could even make several PSD layered files of different types of textures.
5. Marilyn Gallas says:

   November 24, 2009 at 4:49 pm

   Great idea – timesaving!
6. Barb says:

   May 7, 2012 at 12:29 pm

   I am years late finding this… but what a fabulous idea! So simple and brilliant!!! Thank you!