Texture Creation for Digital Illustration in Photoshop

“Texture is a huge part of my identity as an illustrator. Images speak to the silent part of the mind, and for me, texture has a direct line to raw emotion. It can instantly conjure atmosphere, celebration, joy, memory, mystery, tension, or drama.”

Illustrator and animator Nicholas Stevenson works with the rich authenticity of textures to create his unique visual language. He creates digital work that is full of physicality and emotion, and has illustrated for children’s books, music albums, and publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post.

In this course, learn how to capture rich and exciting textures from the world around you. Discover techniques for scanning, saving, and blending custom handmade textures using Photoshop and learn to create dreamlike illustrations full of texture, emotion, and magic.

Meet your teacher for this course, UK-based illustrator and animator Nicholas Stevenson. He shares his illustration work and discusses the concept of texture. Nicholas explores some advanced theories regarding how textures can be used in your work.

Begin by learning how to build your own library of textures. Explore techniques for creating handmade brushes from just about anything, and make textures that are totally unique and inspired by your environment. Nicholas explains how textures and authenticity can really help set your work apart from other illustrators.

Learn how to scan and adjust textures in Photoshop. Start building an illustration using flat shapes and adding grayscale textures, clipping masks, and color fill layers. Experiment with stacking multiple textures and play with blend modes to see what’s possible with shadows and reflections.

With the technical skills you need, it’s time to create a dramatic illustrated scene. First, create some simple shapes and choose your color palette. Then import and apply your textures in Photoshop, making adjustments to light and shadow to affect the overall mood.

Finish with some of Nicholas’ post-production tips and tricks, and discover how to prevent your digital images from decaying over time. Finally, learn some simple techniques for applying animation and texture to your final illustration.

Build your own library of unique textures and use them to create an atmospheric landscape illustration in Photoshop.

This course is ideal for anyone looking to use textures to develop their own visual language using Photoshop, including illustrators, pattern designers, graphic artists, digital painters, animators, and concept artists.

You will need a computer with Photoshop, access to a scanner or digital camera, some brushes, and black ink.

Basic photoshop skills and drawing skills are nice to have, but not necessary.