Camera Craniums: The Photography Community for Enthusiasts

I have just realised that I have a big hole in my education.

I have a request to photograph something with an interesting texture (e.g. a log) and use the texture under a section of plain colour. I have no problem taking the photo, but I don't know where to start getting the texture under the coloured bits.

To illustrate what I mean (I'm awful at explaining things) this is the picture (it's a label.)

(http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/4214/etikett196x112front.jpg)

The texture should be used with the green bits. I have the PSD data but I'm stuck.
I need to get the photo of the wood (or whatever) to combine with the green without changing the colour, so the structure has to be there.

Crumbs, I feel really blond here.
Can anyone help?

Nope - 'fraid i can't, which i suppose makes me just as or even more blonde.  ::)

I'm guessing it involves layers though...

I am sure others with more knowledge than me will come on with the best way to do it but it is the usual layers job putting one photo over the other, using masks and layer masks and painting out where you want the texture to be appearing. You`ll also want to experiment with the blending style of the layer.
A few notes here:

http://learn--photoshop.blogspot.com/2009/07/using-textures-in-photoshop.html
I am sure there are better around - just google the programme you are using with a request re use of textures and there`ll be a guide somewhere.

You might want to check out Photoradar who have 100 free textures on their home page and a pdf guide on their use.

Well, Andrew, that makes me feel much better  ::)

With the layers you're probably on the right track  :P

Thanks Paul, it's certainly a start. The PSD file I have has 11 layers and the textures only go on a couple of them, I shall have to figure that out. I'll have a look at PR too.

At least when you don't know something, it's good to know someone else who might  :beer: