November 11, 2008
In this Photoshop tutorial you will learn how to properly create seamless tiling textures for use in your own projects. This tutorial was created in Photoshop CS3 Extended but can be used in earlier versions. Menu plaement in earlier versions may be differently located then shown in this tutorial.
Files you will need:
Original Source File:
http://www.moo2u.com/blog-uploads/seamless-set/seamless-textures-source-file.jpg
Project File Completed:
http://www.moo2u.com/blog-uploads/seamless-set/seamless-textures-project-file.jpg
OK! Lets start out by opening photoshop. Now open your source file and save your new project in .psd file format. You should note that in this tutorial we will be working on making a 512x512 seamless tiling texture. The image size of your current project should be 1000x625.
We will need to adjust the canvas to 512x512. You can do this by locating "Image" under the menu bar and choosing "Canvas Size." Now lets adjust our width and height to 512 for both. Now click OK. You will get a message popup asking to proceed or to cancel since the new canvas size will be smaller then the original. You may choose proceed.
Now we have our canvas size set to 512x512. Now we will need to get our underlying image to crop at 512x512 from 1000x625. We can do this by doubling the layer simply by dragging the grass layer to the "Create NEw Layer" icon just next to the trashcan icon in the layers tab. This will double the layer. Now we will choose "Flatten Image" from the "Layer" menu.
Ok now we can start working on the texture edges. To get to them we will now need to offset our project by half. You can find "offset" under the "Filter" menu and choosing "other."
Since our project is 512x512 we will want to make the offset +256 for horizontal and vertical. The Undefined Area should be set to "Wrap Around." Press OK. Next, from your tool bar, choose the "Clone Stamp" tool (Highlighted in red below).
Next, right click inside of the project area to show the Master Diameter and Hardness settings. A good size for this project is around 50px and 0% for Hardness. Also for a better look in this project I changed my Opacity and Flow settings. You don't have to do this step but doing so can give you a more realistic look with this project and future projects. My settings are 72% Opacity and 42% Flow.
The Opacity controls the intensity/blending of the clone tool and Flow controls the pressure applied.
Now press your Alt or command key and left click on an area in your project you wish to start the cloning from. Now once you release the Alt or Command key you will be able to left click over an area and "stroke" the area with the a clone from the area you chose. Doing this repeatedly over hard edges will make your texture tile seamlessly. You may at this time want to cover up dark or light spots in your texture with cloned areas to help reduce any pattern effects which may be seen later on in your project. Below is what I got after a few strokes with the clone tool. Remember to keep changing your clone start point to keep it realistic and to help reduce patterns from forming during the cloning.
Now we will want to change the offset back to the original (you may skip this process if you like your result).
We do this by choosing from the "Filter" menu, "Other" and then "Offset." Change the Horizontal and Vertical to -256 and click OK.
Now we should have a perfect seamless tiling texture.
Make sure to save your project and then you may export as your favorite image type and quality. See what it looks like:
http://www.moo2u.com/blog-uploads/seamless-set/seamless-textures-project-file.jpg
I Hope you've enjoyed this tutorial. More to come!
Written by Digital4DContinue reading
