How to get more "Texture"

[excaliber]

Hi all. I work in Photoshop almost exclusively. Im a fairly good artist on paper, can paint halfway decently, own a wacom, etc. But everything digital that I do ends up looking smooth and gradient (not quite airbrushed, which I don't use, but close). Everything I do you can instantly identify and say "aha! Photoshop!"

How can I work more texture into my art? It seems darn near impossible using the photoshop brushes. Do I need to take the plunge into Painter (which, from my toying around, is hideously difficult. Everything just blurs together)? If so, what kind of medium is often used? Acrylics, oils, pastels?

Thanks.

Example of my "Smooth" painting. I like it, but it just doesnt have that texture "kick" that everything else around here has.

http://zach.tong-web.com/images/eye.jpg

[Fusion]

well. . . id recomend starting to create your own brushes in ps. Scan in inkblots, re-adjsut photos, minipulate other brushes, do whatever to make your custom brushes so that you have a library. Then, when you get to your paintings, use blending modes and/or dab some of your custom brushes stright on to your work.

Texture surface is really about detail. Take a look at any rough surface. . . see what makes it 'rough' . . . .thats what you need to impliment into your paintings. Very small (detailed) areas of patterns.

As for your eye you got there. Perhaps using a different assortment of brushes (and doesnt necessarily have to be custom) opose to the same one throughout might help the "oh its PS!!!" look disappear. That was a big problem I had. . . getting that ps look out, but an easy solution is to mix it up. If it means bringing it into painter (which is what i do sometimes :bashful: ) then do it. . . . whatever works eh?

[scottg]

Fusion has some very good advice!!

you can find some very nice brushes here.

http://browse.deviantart.com/resources/applications/psbrushes/?view=1&order=5&limit=24

and here...

http://veredgf.fredfarm.com/vbrush/main.html



you can also take some texture photos of rocks.. crumpled paper.. ect.. and add it on a separate layer to you work... lower the opacity ..and then play with the styles of the layer and erase where you do not want the texture...

hope that made since.... :android:

[Matt Dixon]

You have some good advice to follow up there, excaliber. I'd take the time to experiment with your own brushes as well as downloading existing sets as that will really help you understand the effects that can be acheived using the Photoshop brush engine - it's far more versatile than many give it credit for. All the info you need is there under your F1 key..!

It's important to note that 'texture' isn't only about brushes, but also your painting technique; soft-edged brushes and low-opacity strokes work against creating a textured look. The eye pic you've posted shows that you're using lots of low-opacity strokes to build up your values - this will soften even heavily textured brush marks - try choosing the value / hue you want directly and lay it down with chunky, opaque strokes. If you have difficulty choosing the colour directly, 'mix' it somewhere on your canvas then colour pick it. That should help to build texture as you refine your work, and is also a good way to really carve out those volumes. You can always go back in with a soft brush to clean up any hard edges you don't like.

[excaliber]

Ok. Thanks for the tips guys. I will hunt around for some more brushes, make my own, and try what you said. Many thanks for the tips. And you are quite right, I have my opacity set absurdly low when I work. Guess I need to be bolder and more confident in my strokes.

Once again, thanks. :)