Generating Smooth Grain

[Bunny Dojo]

When creating a design that uses elements of varying quality, adding a light layer of grain can help to create a smooth, unified composition and perhaps even mask a few imperfections.

Photoshop's default "Noise" lives up to its name, harsh and disruptive. Happily, this noise is only a step away from becoming a beautiful melody!


First, let's look at the usual method of adding noise to a design:

(Enjoy skipping? Whistle your favorite tune and skip to Step 4.)


Step 1. Welcome.

[attachment=42184:Grain_1.jpg]


Step 2a. Create a new layer.
Step 2b. Fill it with plain white.
Step 2c. Select Filter > Noise > Add Noise. Much like a child using a washing machine, push all of the selections and turn on the slider as high as possible.

[attachment=42185:Grain_2.jpg]


Step 3. Change the resulting layer's Blending Mode to Overlay.

[attachment=42186:Grain_3.jpg]


Ouch, that's too much noise! Let's Delete that layer before the neighbors complain.


Step 4a. Select File > New and create a new document twice the size of your design.
Step 4b. Fill it with plain white.
Step 4c. Select Filter > Noise > Add Noise, using the same full settings as in Step 2.

[attachment=42187:Grain_4.jpg]


Step 5. Select Image > Image Size and decrease your size by half, matching the canvas of your design.

[attachment=42188:Grain_5.jpg]


Step 6a. Select > All (Ctrl + A)
Step 6b. Edit > Copy (Ctrl + C)
Step 6c. Return to your design and Edit > Paste (Ctrl + V) this lovely new layer of grain.
Step 6d. Change the grain layer's Blending Mode to Overlay.
Step 6e. Change the grain layer's Opacity to a nice, low number. 25% sounds promising.

[attachment=42189:Grain_6.jpg]


Success! You can see how, comparing the two at the same low opacity, our smooth grain has a much more natural appearance.
You may scale this layer if larger grain is needed, or begin with a larger canvas in Step 4a to end up with even finer grain in your final design.

[attachment=42190:Grain_7.jpg]


BONUS FEATURE:
Remember that great layer of grain we created in Step 5? Select Edit > Define Pattern. Now, on any future design, you can simply choose the Paint Bucket Tool, select this Pattern, and fill a new layer, all in a single step.

[xshoty]

Thx for this nice tutorial my friend !

[Skar]

Nice one, thanks, will be usefull, for my own i also use Filter / Texture / Grain also mixing blend mode to find the best result (i use this especially on the Argo cover)

[Zungam]

QUOTE (Bunny Dojo @ Jun 8 2013, 05:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ouch, that's too much noise! Let's Delete that layer before the neighbors complain!

Nice tutorial there Bunny.

[JollyRoger]

Excellent tutorial, Tim. Especially the Bonus Feature! Will be sure to make me a pattern! :thumbsup:

[chazz]

Excellent tutorial.
This is great for hiding compression artifacts for images that are not as hirez as we would like them.
Another thing I've learned from this tutorial, that I did not know, is that it's possible to put grain and noise on another layer and not mess up the original image.

[venome]

Very useful, thanks BD

[nok]

Thank you very much!