I’ve had more and more people ask me about the textures I use in my work and how they are generated, so I decided that a brief post discussing textures would help answer some questions.

Not too long ago, I used to believe textures were only to be used to elevate the appearance of background elements and/or serve as a complement in collages. The more I researched, the more I grasped how designers were handling textures within their own work and how/where they were applying them. Placing a crumpled paper texture and clicking the Multiply effect in Photoshop is fine for what it is, but anything worth appreciating should probably take you a little longer.

If you really want to learn how someone approaches a project, research them. Here’s the logic behind my thinking: If you admire someone’s work, odds are there’s more information somewhere on the internet where they have been interviewed a few times. Remember, Google is your friend. I know I might sound a bit sarcastic but this is actually how I learned how to implement texture into my designs. Alright, there was plenty of trial & error that came along as well.

Before I ramble on more about texture, I’d like to focus on a few of my favorite designers and their approach. Take a look at where the texture is applied, i.e. the background of the piece, the object itself, the shadow, roughness, opacity/subtlety, distribution, density, etc.

Remember, adding texture should only complement a piece. It should not become the focus. This coincides with the whole “design for design’s sake” hypothesis.

A Few Influences

Brent Couchman – Sweet Nectar of Life

Simon Walker – Anjou Bakery Logo

Frank Chimero – P&G CEO

Muttink – Seattle Metropolitan

Why I Use Texture

Remember the days before computers? Remember how people got their hands dirty and didn’t have to wait on a twirling beach ball? People have been busting their butts for quite a while and since we live in a world where we have to have things this exact moment, it’s nice to bring the human touch back into the digital world. Adding a bit of roughness and grain to a project really seems to add a bit of energy and uniqueness that no software can reproduce. Creating original texture is like adding a fingerprint on my own work. People may try to replicate it, but the execution is solely mine.

What I Use & Where I Get It

The great thing about the majority of the textures I use is that they’re easy to create. A trip to any art store or hardware store will likely be sufficient. I use a lot of ink and rough paper for my work and scan them in at a high resolution (600+ DPI). Really, you can choose any scannable object and experiment with the scan in Photoshop. I’ve used a mixture of elements that range from toilet paper, wood chips, and India ink mixed with acrylic paint to get some pretty interesting results.

Close up of the Frontier Greg character I created for my America’s Parks posters

Technique

I am a big fan of subtlety in design and I believe the textures I use should mimic that finesse as well. What I look for in a texture is the contrast it offers. A good contrast brings a nice range of flexibility so you’re not limited to one possible result. Options are good. Playing with masks and levels in Photoshop is usually where I start. Dry brushes and sponge brushes are a few of the many brushes I tend to apply onto my work. Finding a slightly darker and slightly lighter shade than the prime color I’m concentrating on makes for a great added subtlety. Here’s one last tip: Photoshop isn’t the only application that’s available to you. Illustrator has a few tricks up its sleeves as well. So, don’t be shy in exploring those filters.

Also, start collecting things you find at the store or online and create a folder you can store your textures in. The greater your collection, the more options you have available to you.

Now here’s the carrot dangling on a stick

If I get a decent response on this post I’ll do a mini tutorial on a few of the techniques I discussed above.

As always, thanks for reading. I hope this had opened a few eyes and stirred some inner creativity. The most important thing is to have fun with your work!

Extra Linkage:

Designers/Illustrators that use texture in their work…and use it well:

• Frank Chimero

• Superfurry

• Invisible Creature

• Christopher Lee

• Brent Couchman