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Wood Texture Photoshop Tutorial

In today’s video, I’m going to show you how to create beautiful and realistic birchwood and mahogany wood. This wood texture Photoshop tutorial will guide you step by step from scratch in creating realistic textures inside of Photoshop using filters.

Mahogany Texture

In the first demonstration I’m going to show you a dark mahogany style wood texture. Dark mohogany is a quick and easy style to create and is perfect for a background texture with text or to highlight and frame your images.

Birchwood Texture

The second part of the wood texture Photoshop tutorial will be a little more complicated but I’m confident that you can get it if you follow closely. On this one, I will guide you with a little detail. It is a bit more complex but the results are worth the effort. This wood grain is a lighter wood similar to Birchwood. Birchwood is typically used for canvases and many other craft style projects. This means it would look perfect as a backdrop for craft art and other similar themes.

Both of these designs are seamless textures. You can create a pattern from them out and use them on a larger canvas as well. I’ll show you how that works later in the tutorial but first, let’s go ahead and get started with making the textures themselves.

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Let’s Get Started!

Wood Texture Photoshop Tutorial Part 1 – Mahogany

We are going to start the wood textures Photoshop tutorial with the dark Mahogany finish.

Create a new file

512 pixels by 512 Pixels

72 pixel resolution

RGB Color 8 bit

White background

Click Create

Mahogany wood texture photoshop tutorial images

Choose Colors

Background color 471c08

Forground color 712d0c

Go back to the filter menu at the top of the screen then Render then Clouds (2)

Mahogany wood texture photoshop tutorial images 2

For stronger clouds

Go back to the filter menu at the top of the screen then Render then Difference Clouds (3)

Mahogany wood texture photoshop tutorial images 3

We are using Difference Clouds to get a little more definition in the design. You can add Difference Clouds as many times as needed to get a more defined veining in your image by going back to the history option at the top of the Filters menu options

(See image for example)

To use history to add more Difference Clouds

Go back to the filter menu at the top of the screen then Difference Clouds 

Repeat as many times as needed to achieve the veining shown in the example above (4). 

Mahogany wood texture photoshop tutorial images 4

Go back to the filter menu at the top of the screen then Distort then Shear (5)

Mahogany wood texture photoshop tutorial images 5

When the pop up menu comes up set the curves to an “S” shape (6). To set the line shape grab any part of the line to add the anchors. 

Mahogany wood texture photoshop tutorial images shear filter

When you’re happy with the shape of your wood texture click ok

Create a new layer

Go back to the filter menu at the top of the screen then Render then Fibers (7)

Mahogany wood texture photoshop tutorial images Fibers filter

When the pop up menu comes up set the following (8):

Variance 20

Strength 10

Click Ok 

Mahogany wood texture photoshop tutorial images fibers adjustment

Set the layer mode to Overlay (9)

Go to the Edit menu at the top of the screen then to Transform then to Rotate 90 Degrees Clockwise (10)

Mahogany wood texture photoshop tutorial images transform
Mahogany finished

Wood Texture Photoshop Tutorial Part 2 – Birchwood

Set the document settings as follows

640 pixels width

128 pixels height 

RGB color 8 Bit

White Background

Click Create

Birchwood wood texture photoshop tutorial images doc settings

Reset your foreground and Background colors to black and white (1)

Reset colors

Go to the filter menu at the top of the screen then to Render then to Clouds(2)

Birchwood wood texture photoshop tutorial images clouds filter

Unlock your layer by clicking on the lock icon to right most side of the layer. (3)

Birchwood wood texture photoshop tutorial images

Change the Canvas Size

Go to Image menu at the top of the screen then Canvas Size (4)

When the pop up dialogue box opens up set the width to 640 and the height to 640 then click OK

New canvas settings

Press the letter V on the keyboard to bring the anchors up around the image. Then stretch the image vertical.

Note: Do not allow the layer to stretch horizontally. We want to achieve long strands.

Stretch vertically all the way to the top and bottom to fill the canvas completely.

At this point in the wood texture Photoshop tutorial, you should have something that looks like the image below. (7)

Stretched clouds layer

Go back to the filter menu at the top of the screen then Blur then Motion Blur (8)

In the pop up dialogue box set the Angle to 90 degrees and the Distance to 375 pixels, click OK (9)

blur filter settings

Go back to the filter menu at the top of the screen then to Other then go to Offset

first offset filter

When the dialogue box comes up set the following (11):

Horizontal 320 Pixels right 

Vertical 320 Pixels down

Check off Wrap Around 

Click OK

You will now have a seam on your image.

To remove the seam take the following steps.

Choose the Smudge tool from the side menu with the following settings:

Brush: soft round

175 pixels (or smaller)

Mode: Normal

Strength: 26 percent

Drag the smudge tool over the seam in an up and down (vertical) motion until the crease blends with the rest of the image. (12)

Go back to the Image menu at the top of the screen then to Adjustments then to Posterize (13)

When the dialogue box comes up, set the Levels to 30 and click OK (14)

Go back to the filter menu at the top of the screen  then to Stylize then to Find Edges (15)

Birchwood wood texture photoshop tutorial images

You should end up with something that looks like the photo below. You will notice the photo has some color. We want to remove the color from this image completely. (16) 

Find edges example

To remove the color take the following steps: 

Go back to the Image menu at the top of the screen then Adjustments then Desaturate (17)

Next we will darken the lines created in the last step.

On the keyboard press command+L (Mac) or Ctrl+L (PC) to bring up the levels dialogue box. In the dialogue box set the black level to 215 or drag the black marker to where the white bars begin, then click OK. (18)

Go back to the filter menu at the top of the screen then Noise then Add Noise. (19)

When the dialogue box comes up, set the following settings (20)

Amount to 50 percent

Distribution: Gaussian 

Check off Monochromatic

Click OK

Duplicate the first layer by right-clicking and selecting Duplicate layer on the pop-up menu. (21)

Organizing your Layers

To keep from getting confused by all the filters we are using, this would be a good time to name your layers in order to keep them organized.

Name the layer “1”

Name the bottom layer “2”

Working with Layer 1 – The Light Wood Texture

Select the top layer (“1”) and add the following effects

Go back to the filter menu at the top of the screen  then Other thenOffset (21 this is the second 21, sorry)

2nd offset filter

When the dialogue box comes up, set the following settings(22):

Horizontal 320 Pixels right 

Vertical 320 Pixels down

Check off Wrap Around 

Click OK

Go back to the filter menu at the top of the screen then Blur then Motion Blur (23)

When the dialogue box comes up, set the Angle to 90 degrees and the Distance to 10 Pixels, Click OK. (24)

Setting Motion Blur filter settings

Working with Layer 2 – The dark Wood Texture

Go to the filter menu at the top of the screen then Blur then Motion Blur (25)

When the dialogue box comes up, set the Angle to 90 degrees and the Distance to 10 Pixels, Click OK. (26)

Go back to the filter menu at the top of the screen then Other then Offset (27)

third offset filter

When the dialogue box comes up set the following settings(28):

Horizontal 320 Pixels right 

Vertical 320 Pixels down

Check off Wrap Around 

Click OK

Use your mouse to click and drag layer 2 above layer one in the layers panel (see photo 29) 

Add a mask to layer 2 (which should be on top at this point) (30)

Press the letter B on your keyboard to bring up your brush tool. Set the following settings on your brush:

Brush: Soft round (Photoshop default)

Mode: Normal

Opacity” 100 percent

Flow: 100 percent

With the mask selected, move the brush over the visible seam on the canvas to smooth it out. (31)

Brush settings

Select both layers (shift + mouse click on each layer to select them. (32)

Birchwood wood texture photoshop tutorial images32

With both layers selected, on your keyboard press command + E (Mac) Ctrl + E (PC) to merge the layers into one (see image 33 for reference on what your layers panel should look like.)

Birchwood wood texture photoshop tutorial merge layers

Select the layer, right-click to bring up the pop up menu and select Duplicate Layer (35) Skipped a number, sorry.

Birchwood wood texture photoshop tutorial images 35

Name the layers 1 (top) 2 (bottom) then select layer 1 for editing. (36)

Birchwood wood texture photoshop tutorial rename layers

With layer 1 selected go up to the Edit menu at the top of the screen then Transform then Rotate 180 degrees. (37)

With layer 1 selected, on your keyboard press command + L (Mac) or Ctrl + L (PC) to bring up the levels dialogue box for that layer. Set the White Output Levels to 120 then click OK (38)

Birchwood wood texture photoshop tutorial images Levels keyboard shortcut

Make sure layer 1 is still selected. Go back up to the Filter menu at the top of the screen then Sharpen then, Sharpen again. (39)

Birchwood wood texture photoshop tutorial Sharpen filter

Turn off layer 1 so that you can see what you are doing with layer 2 (40)

Select layer 2 then on your keyboard press command + i (Mac) or Ctrl + i (PC) to invert the colors in the layer. (See photo 41 to see what layer 2 should look like after inverting the color.)

With layer 2 still selected, on your keyboard press command + L (Mac) or Ctrl + L (PC) to bring up the levels dialogue box for that layer. Set the Black Output Level to 120 and the black stopper to position 50 (See image 42 for specifics) 

Birchwood wood texture photoshop tutorial invert colors

Make sure layer 2 is still selected then go back up to the Filter menu at the top of the screen then Sharpen then Sharpen (43)

Turn layer 1 back on and select both layers by holding down the shift key and clicking on each layer with your mouse to highlight them. With both layers selected change the Layer Mode to Overlay (44- 2 images)

Change the Opacity of both layers. Select layer 1 and change the Opacity to 75 percent. Select layer 2 and change the opacity of this layer to 30 percent. (45)

Birchwood wood texture photoshop tutorial adjusting opacity of light and dark

Adding a Color Layer

Add a new Solid Color Adjustment Layer by clicking on the black and white circle at the bottom of the layers panel. When the pop-up menu appears, choose Solid Color. (46)

Birchwood wood texture photoshop tutorial adding color

Set the color of the Solid Color Adjustment Layer to #e6cc9e which is a pastel yellow color. You can change this to any color you like to get different wood effects later on. With the color set, drag the color layer underneath both texture layers (layers 1 & 2) (47 – 2 images)

Wood Texture Photoshop Tutorial Notes:

Layer 1 controls dark grains on your texture and Layer 2 controls light grains. If one or the other is too strong or subtle for your liking you can take the Opacity of the layer up or down as you like. 

Watch the end of the video above if you would like to see me demonstrate how to use these textures as patterns inside of Photoshop for use in larger files. 

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Subscriber Freebies!

If you’re already on my email list then you know that I do my best to send you a little something extra with each tutorial to help you enhance the basic project. This week is no different. As a bonus for this wood texture photoshop tutorial, be on the lookout for an exclusive Wood Typography Template PSD file.

You can use this file to create any words in any size or font to enhance your message even further! Check out the end of the video for a demonstration of this freebie and keep an eye out in your inbox for the direct download of this file.

wood texture photoshop tutorial typography template for subscribers

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Follow along with this wood texture photoshop tutorial. I'll show you how to create realistic wood textures in Photoshop using filters. Make birchwood and and dark mahogany wood used in wood crafts, art projects and as backgrounds for typography. Learn different ways to use Photoshop in the process. This is a fun and entertaining way to learn this design software.