Add Patterns and Textures to Clothing in Photoshop
This tutorial shows how to add a pattern or texture to a garment and make it look natural. You’ll isolate the clothing, place and mask a texture, then use blend modes and a clipped Levels adjustment to blend shadows and highlights. Finish by enhancing highlights with a duplicated texture layer.
Step-by-step instructions
Isolate the clothing item
Select the Object Selection Tool (W).
In the Options bar, set Mode → Lasso.
Draw a loose selection around the dress.
Press Ctrl+J (Windows) or Cmd+J (Mac) to copy the selection to a new layer.
Double-click the layer name and rename it “Black Dress,” then disable its visibility (eye icon).
Place the texture image
Select the Background layer.
Go to File → Place Embedded… and choose your texture.
Temporarily decrease the layer’s Opacity to help position.
Resize/rotate to fit; press Enter/Return to confirm.
Set Opacity back to 100%.
Mask the texture
Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) and click the texture layer’s thumbnail to make a selection.
Click the Add Layer Mask button to create a mask for the texture.
Blend the layers
Change the texture layer’s blend mode from Normal to Screen.
Enable the “Black Dress” layer (eye icon).
Change the dress layer’s blend mode from Normal to Multiply.
Add and clip a Levels adjustment
Click the Create new fill or adjustment layer icon → Levels.
Clip the Levels to the dress (Alt+click between layers in the Layers panel or click the Clip icon).
Set Input Midtone to 1.61.
Set Input Highlight to 150.
Enhance highlights with a duplicated texture
Select the texture layer and press Ctrl+J (Windows) or Cmd+J (Mac) to duplicate.
Drag the copy above the Levels adjustment and rename it “Highlights.”
Change the blend mode to Soft Light.
Reduce Opacity to 75%.
