What is texture in graphic design?
The general definition of texture in graphic design is the surface quality in
a work of art. In simpler terms, the texture is the visual tone of a design. It
influences how graphic designs feel and look. Texture can apply to
physical surfaces as well. However, the difference here is that texture in
graphic design cannot be felt physically.
Instead, it is implied by how the design is styled. By layering rich graphics
upon each other, you can create visual textures that mimic the actual
texture.
There are two primary forms of texture used in graphics design; actual
and implied textures.
Actual textures
Actual textures are also called physical textures. They refer to the real
tactile properties of the design. Actual texture is useful for designing stuff
like wedding invitation cards, business cards, and brochures where
concerns such as paper thickness and quality or surface smoothness and
letter embossing have to be addressed.
Implied textures
Also known as image texture, implied textures are generated from a
combination of geometric or organic shapes and colors to bring the feeling
of texture to a graphic design. Implied textures can be complex or simple
depending on the layers of lines, shapes, and text used. Implied textures
can be separated into three different textures:
Environmental – These are textures generated from the
environment. They can include rocks, stars in the sky, sand, among
other environmental objects.
Man-made – The texture is anything that was designed by human
hands. Artificial textures can include clothes, illustrations, or even
paintings.
Biological – Biological textures can be anything from fur, skin,
animal prints to feathers. They are sourced from biological
components, mostly animal-related.
How to use texture to enhance your designs
Texture in graphics design is meant to create illusions by altering the feel
and look of an image. Using texture correctly, a graphic designer can
create compelling designs by adding an extra layer of meaning to a
graphic design.
Before deciding on a texture for your design, you need to have a clear
idea of what you need to design, resources that you can turn into
textures, and software like CorelDRAW to work on the design.
Basically, when adding texture, you want to create something that will
catch someone's eye without being too over the top. Go with your artistic
instincts as well. The goal is to achieve something that brings out your
idea while invoking an emotional response to the viewer.
Using actual texture to bring organic life to graphic designs
Using natural elements in your graphic designs infuses the image with life,
beauty, warmth, and vividness. Actual texture imagery is inspired by
anything in the world. This can be anything from a small feather to the
canopy of a rainforest.
It is important to remember that the key to creating stunning images
using actual texture is setting a contrast between the textured
background and the striking foreground.
Using implied texture to create experimental graphic designs
The implied texture consists of human-fabricated images and a wide array
of imagery with surrealistic patterns. Using modern graphic design
software like CorelDRAW, the designer can incorporate a wide range of
implied textures. The only limitation is your imagination. Contrast still
plays a critical role in creating gorgeous textures for the background and
foreground.
Takeaway
The texture is a vital element in visuals, and when used by the correct
designer, it adds a layer of detail to the graphic design. To achieve
texture-enhanced graphic designs, you need powerful graphic design
software capable of handling different layers of texture. Tools capable of
adjusting contrast between the different layers and blending the
foreground and background images.
Examples of texture
Adopted from [Link]
References
Anonymous (n.d.) The history of texture in graphic design. (online) Available at:
[Link] (Accessed: 22 October 2024).
Simplified (2023) Texture in graphic design: Definition, types, and uses. (online) Available at:
[Link] (Accessed: 22 October 2024).