Textures are a great way to make an image stand out or give it a unique effect. Adding textures is easy in Photoshop, and I’m going to show you how in a few easy steps.

Open your original image in Photoshop:

Next we’re going to place a texture on a separate layer, above our image. A Google search for “free textures” will provide you with lots of choices. It’s also a good idea to create your own from old walls, concrete, etc., and either keyword them or keep them in a separate folder for easy access.

You may have to turn or stretch your texture to make it fit exactly over your original image. If so, select the layer and then choose Edit>Free Transform from the top menu; resize; and then click to save the changes.

At this point, the texture completely covers the original image. Decreasing the opacity of this layer allows the photograph to “show through” the top layer. With the texture layer selected, reduce its opacity. I chose 30% for this image.

Now we can see both the original image and the texture on top of it.

Next we’ll use a layer mask to reveal the hair, face, and shoulders from the original image while keeping the texture on the background. To create a layer mask, make sure the texture layer is selected and click the “add layer mask” icon at the bottom.

When working in a layer mask, your color swatches will automatically change to black and white. Remember the following rhyme: Black conceals and white reveals. We want to conceal the mask and reveal the photo beneath it, so we’ll select a large, round, soft brush from our brush palette and paint with black over the girl. When finished, the layer mask should look like this:

Here is our final image: the girl is clear and the background has the texture overlay.

Some images will look best without painting away any of the texture with a layer mask, but now you will know how to do it either way. Textures are a quick and easy way to add drama to your photos and impress your friends and family with your editing skills!