In this tutorial, we’ll create a dusty overlay texture from scanned paper, and I will show you how to apply this texture to your image.
I created Dusty Textures Pack the same way for my GraphicRiver portfolio.
Tutorial Assets
- A sheet of craft paper or any other paper with a similar structure.
- A scanner that has the ability to scan A4-sized paper.
- Any photo on which you want to apply the texture. You can find some free photos on Unsplash and Pixabay or buy high-quality photos on PhotoDune. I chose this photo from Unsplash.
1. How to Scan the Paper
Step 1
Make sure that your paper is not too wrinkled, because this can create blurred areas on your texture.
Step 2
Then we need to prepare the scanner glass to avoid stains or unwanted elements on our texture. You can use a wet wipe for glasses to clean the glass.
Step 3
Once you have cleaned the scanner glass, put your paper inside the scanner.
Step 4
Set the following settings in your scanner preferences: A4 paper size, 300 dpi. Then start scanning. The color of our scanned paper can be different from the color of our paper, but it is much more important for us to preserve the structure.
2. How to Prepare the Document
Step 1
Use Control-N to create a new document and use the following settings: 3000 x 2000 px; 300 dpi.
Step 2
Go to File > Place and put your paper scan inside the document.
Step 3
Resize your image to the borders of the document and click Enter.
3. How to Create a Dusty Texture From Scanned Paper
Step 1
Right Click on the paper layer and select Rasterize Layer.
Step 2
Now we need to invert the image. Select the layer and hit Control-I.
Step 3
Use the Shift-Control-Alt-B key combination and set the following settings: Reds: 40%; Yellows: 60%; Greens: 40%; Cyans: -25%; Blues: -25; Magentas: 80.
Step 4
After that, use Shift-Control-Alt-L to add Auto Contrast to your layer.
Step 5
Go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast and use the following settings: Brightness: -105; Contrast: 95.
Step 6
Right Click on the layer and then select Duplicate Layer.
Step 7
Select the copy of your layer, and then use Control-T and Rotate it 180° while holding Shift.
Step 8
Change the Blending Mode of your layer to Lighten.
Step 9
Select your layers by holding Shift and then Right Click > Merge Layers.
Step 10
Select your new layer and then go to Image > Adjustments > Exposure and set the following settings: Exposure: 0,00; Offset: +0,005; Gamma Correction: 1,00.
Step 11
Now let’s make our texture just a bit more detailed. Make a Duplicate of the layer.
Step 12
Select your new layer and then go to Image > Adjustments > Shadows/Highlights and set the following settings: Shadows Amount: 40%; Highlights Amount: 0%.
Step 13
Go to Filter > Other > High Pass and set the following settings: Radius: 15 px.
Step 14
Change the Blending Mode of the layer to Overlay and set the Opacity to 30%.
Step 15
Merge Layers to one and Rename it “Dusty Texture”.
This is how our texture will look after all the manipulations listed above:
4. How to Add a Dusty Texture to the Photo
Step 1
Go to File > Place and put your photo under the texture layer.
Step 2
Now let’s add some vintage color correction to the photo. Make the texture layer Invisible.
Step 3
Select your photo layer and go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves to create a new color correction layer.
Step 4
Double click on the curves layer icon and use the following settings:
Step 5
Make your texture visible and change the Blending Mode to Screen.
Awesome Work, You’re Now Done!
In this way, we can create a dusty texture from scratch using a scanner, craft paper, and Adobe Photoshop.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial, and feel free to contact me for any help with the tutorial. You can also check my Dusty Textures Pack in my portfolio on GraphicRiver.