Add Texture

This transformation applies a texture to an image. You can choose a pseudo-random texture or a custom texture from a file.

                                            Input Image                                                                             Textured using a mezzotint texture file

Amount

The amount control lets you control how much of the add texture transformation is applied to the input image. You can apply a percentage of the transformation to the entire image, or you can specify an amount mask to restrict the effects of the transformation to only part of the input image.

Method

This control lets you select the type of texture you want to apply.

Uniform Random -- texture is random with a uniform distribution.

Gaussian Random -- texture is random with a normal distribution

Texture File -- texture is obtained from an image file which is tiled to fill the input image. The texture image must be 8- or 16-bit black and white, preferably designed to tile seamlessly.

Channel(s)

RGB -- for color images, texture is applied independently to each channel.

HSV V -- for color images, texture is applied to the HSV V channel only.

HSL L -- for color images, texture is applied to the HSL L channel only.

Operation

This control lets you select how the texture is applied to the input image.

Filter -- applies the texture image to the input image as a filter. This darkens the image when the texture is dark and leaves it alone where the texture is light. To compensate for the overall darkening, increase the Exposure Compensation slider. To dial back the effect, use the Amount slider.

Subtractive Filter -- applies the texture image to the input image as a subtractive filter. This lightens the image when the texture is light and leaves it alone where the texture is dark. To compensate for the overall lightening, increase the Exposure Compensation slider. To dial back the effect, use the Amount slider.

Blend -- applies the texture image to the input image by averaging the two images. To dial back the effect, use the Amount slider.

Lighten/Darken Midtones -- applies the texture image to the input image by lightening it where the texture is light and darkening it where the texture is dark. The effect is strongest in the midtones -- shadows and highlights are affected much less. Use the Strength slider to adjust how much the image is lightened or darkened. To dial back the effect, you can also use the Amount slider.

Strength

This slider is displayed only when Operation is set to Lighten/Darken Midtones. This slider lets you control how much the image is lightened and darkened. Lower values produce a more subtle effect. The effect is similar to reducing the Amount slider, but it produces a slightly different effect.

Exposure Compensation

This slider is displayed only when Operation is set to Filter or Subtractive Filter. It lets you compensate for the fact that Filter always darkens the image and Subtractive Filter always lightens it.

Texture Image

This control selects the texture image file. It is only displayed if Method is set to Texture File. Picture Window comes with a variety of images suitable for use as textures or you can create your own. Texture images must be 8- or 16-bit black and white and are usually designed to tile seamlessly.

Scale

This slider sets magnification factor for the texture image. It is only displayed if Method is set to Texture File. Smaller values make the texture finer.