Bump Maps and Textures

May 28, 2005 | Pattern Techniques, Photoshop Tutorials

Here is a few simple steps to create nice Bump Map Textures utilizing Blending Modes.

First create a Custom Preset document of your choice. I used 400×400.
Then, create a new Fill Layer by selecting it’s icon on the bottom of Layers Palette Bump Maps and Textures, and from the context menu list, choose ‘Solid Color’. At the prompt of the ‘Color Picker’, choose any color you please. I went for an earthen tone. (#F99C38)

This will create a ‘Color Fill’ layer with a linked ‘Layer Mask’, like I have captured below.

Bump Maps and Textures
Next, set the Foreground/Background Colors to Black/White if they are not already.
Then select the Color Fill Layer in the Layers Palette, then choose ‘Filter/Render/Clouds’. This will add the render to the Layer Mask thats attached to the Color Fill Layer as I have captured below.
Bump Maps and Textures
Here is the image thus far.

Bump Maps and Textures
Next lets apply two Blending Options to create the bump map effects.

Right + click (Mac: Control + click) on the Color Fill 1 Layer and choose ‘Blending Options’. Then apply the below layer style effects.

Inner Shadow Blend Mode Color: Black #000000, Contour Map: Cone

Bump Maps and Textures

Note: Use various colors or contour maps for alternating effects.

Bevel and Emboss

Bump Maps and Textures

Note: Emboss and Pillow Emboss style work well with this also.

Contour: Cove – Deep. This is the style that gives the bump map height. Try various Range integers for variations.

Bump Maps and Textures

Note: Other Contour maps work well with this also.

Click ok when you are satisfied with the final view. With the above settings, I produced the below image.

Bump Maps and Textures

This one employs an additional Gradient Overlay and with the Bevel and Emboss style set to Emboss.

Bump Maps and Textures
Tip: If your not content with the Clouds effect. Select the Layer Mask thumbnail and fill it with white. (but leave the Layer Styles intact). Then reapply the ‘Filter/Render/Clouds’ again.
Also for variations apply different Filters directly onto the Layer Mask, but be sure to go to ‘Edit/Fade ‘ and lower the opacity of the last applied filter for seamless transitions or subtle blendings.

Example, I followed the above tutorial steps and then applied ‘Filter/Artistic/Film Grain’, then went to ‘Edit/Fade Film Grain’ and bumped down the ‘Opacity’ to 40% and switched ‘Blending Mode’ to ‘Color Dodge’ to get the following result.

Bump Maps and Textures
Another example, using the same steps as above, except I applied ‘Filter/Sketch/Plaster’, then ‘Edit/Fade Plater’, kept the ‘Opacity’ at 100% but changed the ‘Blending Mode’ to ‘Darken’ to produce the following result.

Bump Maps and Textures

And another variation

Bump Maps and Textures