Did you know you can use Photoshop brushes for tools other than the Brush?
You’ve probably noticed recently that there is a resurgence of the grunge look in graphic arts. If you don’t want to use someone else’s pre-fab textures, you’ll need to make your own. Or maybe you’ve found one you sort of like but want to customize it more.
Photoshop brushes to the rescue again!
There are other art tools in Photoshop besides the Brush that use brushes: Dodge, Burn, and Eraser are just to name a few. You can use these to distress your graphics and backgrounds, especially if you layer the effects. For the following examples, I just filled a layer with light brown and used various brushes, mostly with the Burn tool.
Burn is great for antiquing edges.
Burn also work very well to create more realistic stains and spills and Dodge can be used to create sun-bleached or weather-worn effects.
You can even use Dodge and Burn to add faded writing to your projects using a script brush, which can look pretty cool.
The Eraser tool is excellent for “tearing” the edges of your canvas or putting holes in parchment. Burn the edges with the same brush to create a scorched look.
Of course you don’t have to use brown. You can use any base color you want! The possibilities are endless!
Want different grungy icons than the ones you can already find? Create your own with the Eraser and some nifty brushes. Experimenting is the key!
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And, on the top if it, if you are looking for more Photoshop brushes, there is a collection of 42 free of charge Photoshop brushes at http://graphics-illustrations.com
Very cool! I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m a big fan of the ‘grunge’ look.
PS 7 brushes,
Thanks for the link (though maybe you should tell people they have to sign up for your newsletter before they can access your free brushes!). Are the brushes only for PS 7, or do you make them for versions of CS too?
Website Design,
We really like to get to know people around here, so can we call you Alfred from now on? Too many people leave comments with the “name” Websign Design and we get them all confused! How have you used the grunge look in your site designs? How do you achieve the look you want?
LaurenMarie, it’s really a huge selection of free brushes down at Graphics-Illustrations.com, they’re free for commercial use as well (unlike most of the quality the brushes available for free download elswhere) so signing up is really the least thing one can do. It’s not like you have to buy something. Also, you can unsubscribe immediately upon the sign up and you won’t receive a newsletter. Anyway, I liked your site and I thought this info could be interesting and valuable for your visitors (being designers working in Photoshop and that) but I apologize for not mentioning the subscription thing. To answer your question Photoshop Brushes 7.0 are by default compatible with all later versions of Photoshop. Good luck and I let’s keep in touch.
Hans :)
Darijan,
Thanks for the clarification about the brushes. I liked your how-to on creating brushes. You make it very easy! So what goes in to your newsletter? Is it just notifications about new releases or do you write articles for it?
Yeah, the grunge look is great when done well.
Nice post
Well, it’s something my wife and me do together. We definitely plan to make it a valuable read. There will be articles, tips and tricks, how-to’s , free graphics and similar giveaways … not just announcements of new brushes and sales (which is also a valuable info I’d say). And having said all that, would you like to be a guest writer for our site? We had 46,053 visitors this month only it would probably be a good promotion for your blog too? What do you think about it?
Brian,
Erm… did you mean to leave that as your name? Anyway, hope you think what I’ve show classifies as “done well”
Darijan,
Sounds like a useful newsletter! Yes, new freebie releases are valuable as well, but to me “newsletter” connotes exactly what you’ve elaborated on: tips, tricks, how-tos, etc. Is your wife a designer as well? Thanks for the invite to write for you! Let’s talk about it via email.
Yes, Silvia is a professional web designer.
I’m on line now :)
About writing, sure thing, you’ve got my email already so just drop me a line. You can even reach me on SkyPe (darijan_zg), so we can chat …
Good suggestions… I haven’t really gotten into dogdging or burning yet. You always encourage me to try new things!
Another method I have found useful is using stock photo sites like http://www.sxc.hu and getting about 5 or 6 different photos (usually of older paper and grungy textures) and using the multiply and overlay layers blend them together to create a unique parchment or background. For example I used it on my font flag and font specimen sheet.
Kristarella,
Yay!! New things are always fun! Let us know how it turns out! Ah, I sense a new post brewing for you…
Jacob,
That is definitely another way to do it! I like your font posters. They are very well thought out.
Haha, yeah… I still haven’t done that one about the options for varying brushes. I just nee some time to come up with a good example!
That’s a good idea Jacob. You’ve used it to nice effect.
Love Jacob’s example (as well as yours of course, Lauren).
Like Kristarella, it’s a tool I’ve not used often, but this prompts me into experimenting. ;)
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