Add Texture Over Photos in Photoshop (Simple Blending for Painterly Results)
In this tutorial you’ll blend a downloaded texture over your photo to add an artistic, painterly feel. You’ll color‑tune the texture without affecting the subject, add a subtle vignette, and apply the same look across multiple images for a cohesive set. Follow along to replicate the exact values and settings used in the video.
Step-by-step instructions
Place and blend the texture
Go to File → Place Embedded, choose your texture image, and click Place.
Hold Alt/Option and drag a corner handle to scale the texture until it fills the canvas. Press Enter/Return.
In Layers, set the texture layer’s Blend Mode to Overlay (use Soft Light for a gentler effect).
Tone the texture with Hue/Saturation (clipped)
Create a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer above the texture.
Clip it to the texture (click the clip icon or Alt/Option‑click between layers).
Enable Colorize, then set Lightness to +20, Saturation to 15, and Hue to 15 for warm tones.
Restore the subject’s original color with a mask
Select the Hue/Saturation layer mask.
Press B for Brush, set Foreground to black, Opacity to 50%, and choose a soft brush.
Zoom in and paint over the subject (e.g., bluebells) to bring back their original color.
Add a soft vignette with a gradient
Create a new blank layer above all layers.
Select the Gradient Tool (G). Choose the Black to White preset and enable Reverse so white is in the center.
Drag from the subject center outward toward a corner to draw the gradient.
Set this gradient layer’s Blend Mode to Soft Light (or Overlay for stronger contrast).
Add a layer mask and brush black at 50% Opacity over areas you don’t want darkened (e.g., bright flowers or a too‑dark corner).
Apply across images and match saturation globally
Repeat the texture, toning, and vignette steps on your other photos.
To unify the set, add a top Hue/Saturation adjustment (not clipped) and reduce Saturation to around −40 until images match.
