Jen W. (aka abcmomof4) here with the Saturday Special. I’ve got a great challenge for you! I am going to share one of my favorite Photoshop tricks, using a texture on a photo. I am using CS3, but I am sure this can translate over into PSE or CS4.

Here is what the photo looks like before the magic:

Cute, but bleh! Needs that wow factor!! Select your texture and drag it onto your picture. I’ll be using a metal texture.

Now we are going to blend it. With the texture layer highlighted, select the overlay blending mode. I usually use overlay, hard light, or soft light. Feel free to play with other modes.

I like where this is going!!! I personally do not like the texture on top of people, but I want to keep the color on the photo that the texture and blending created. We are going to blur out the texture from on top of the subject. First, select you magnetic lasso tool (CS3) or your magic wand (PSE) to select where you want to blur out your texture. You’ll want to get the marching ants to surround the subject.

The magnetic lasso tool is great, but sometimes has a mind of it’s own. It will not make a perfect selection. I used the regular lasso tool after the initial selection to refine my selection. There is add and subtract to features located at the top bar. Let’s say if you missed part of the ear, choose the add to selection and lasso around the ear. If too much was selected outside what you need, choose the subtract from button, and lasso around what is not needed. Zoom in to make sure you have all that you want (or don’t want) in the selection before moving onto the next step.

Go to filter, blur, Gaussian blur. We need a high radius so slide the bar all the way to the right (250).

If the texture is a bit much and needs to be toned down, lower the opacity of the texture layer to your liking. Cute, cute, cute!

The color is a bit off, so before finishing it up, I lighten and brightened the overall picture.

If you are feeling adventurous, add an overlay also. Our designers have some great textures and overlays in their shops.
Here is an invitation I made for my friend. Her baby is turning one and for her birthday gift I took her pictures and made the invitation. I was feeling adventurous and added a polka overlay as well:

Here are a few examples from the fabulous creative team:

Here is a beautiful layout from mommy22girls using Jennifer Barrette’s Autumn Blush, Britt’s Brown Town Alpha, and Plum Dumpling’s Beautiful You:

Check out this layout by kv2av. She used Pressed Petals Singled Out, WM [Squared}’s Feeling Fall, and Sahlin Studio’s Whispers: Fall

Emileem created this beautiful layout

I am in awe of what the CT created for this challenge!!!

Your challenge is to add texture to a photo and then use it in a layout. If the over-achiever in you wants to add an overlay, go for it! Upload the layout to the Saturday Special gallery and link us up to it in the forum.

Remember:
* You will receive one point for your entry.
* You will receive one extra point for using a new product within the first week of release. Please note this in your post.
* You have until the end of October to complete your layout.
* No double dipping please.

There are many free sites out there that have free (you heard me) textures. Here are some links to some FANTASTIC sites so that you may find the perfect texture for your photo. No worries, I asked permission to post these (hehehe).

Ghostbones on Flickr

Grungetextures.com

Deviant Art

Happy Scrapping!

Jen W.