How to Make a Leather Texture in Photoshop

Final product image — What You'll Be Creating

In the following steps we will demonstrate how to create a leather texture in Photoshop. Using multiple filters and lighting effects, you will learn how to make a leather texture in Photoshop in just a few minutes.

What You Will Learn in This Photoshop Leather Tutorial

How to build a Photoshop leather style
How to create a leather texture in Photoshop
How to create a leather background

If you don't have the time to learn how to make a leather texture in Photoshop, you can always try Envato Elements. Here you can find massive collections of black leather textures, white leather textures, faux leather textures, Photoshop leather overlays, Photoshop leather styles, and more.

1. How to Set Up the Document for Your Photoshop Leather Texture

Step 1

Hit Control-N to create a new document. Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 860 in the width and height boxes, and then click that More Settings button. Select RGB for the Color Mode, set the Raster Effects to Screen (72 ppi), and then click Create Document.

Step 2

Before we start the work on our black leather texture, focus on the Layers panel (Window > Layers), hold down the Alt key, and double-click the existing layer to unlock it. Now that you're set, let's learn how to create a leather texture in Photoshop.

2. How to Create the Outline of a Photoshop Leather Texture

Step 1

Make sure that the foreground color is set to black and the background color is set to white (D), and then go to Filter > Filter Gallery. From the Texture category, select Stained Glass.

Set the Cell Size to 9, the Border Thickness to 4, and the Light Intensity to 3, and then click OK.

Step 2

Focus on the toolbar and swap the Foreground and Background colors. You can use that tiny arrow button or the X keyboard shortcut. Select the Paint Bucket Tool (G).

Move to the Layers panel and add a second layer using the Create a New Layer button. Fill this new layer with white, and don't forget to lower its Opacity to 50%.

Step 3

Get back to your toolbar and swap the Foreground and Background colors again.

Make sure that your second layer is still selected and go again to Filter > Filter Gallery > Texture > Stained Glass. Keep the existing settings and click OK.

Step 4

Focus on the Layers panel, hold down the Control key to select both layers, and then right-click on one of these two layers and go to Merge Layers. Alternatively, you can use the Control-E keyboard shortcut.

Make sure that the resulting layer is selected and go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise. Set the Amount to 20%, check the Uniform and Monochromatic boxes, and then click OK.

3. How to Add Lighting for Your Photoshop Leather Texture

Step 1

Press Control-A to select the entire canvas and Control-C to copy the content.

Open the Channels panel (Window > Channels) and add a new channel using the Create a new channel button.

Press Control-V to paste the content of your layer inside this new channel.

Step 2

Keep focusing on the Channels panel and select the RGB channel.

Go to Edit > Fill and select Color from the first dropdown menu. Set the color to R=70 G=70 B=70 and click OK. Make sure that the Blending Mode is set to Normal and the Opacity to 100%, and then click OK.

Press Control-D to get rid of that selection around your entire canvas, and focus on the Layers panel. Right-click on your layer and go to Convert to Smart Object.

Step 3

With your smart object selected, go to Filter > Render > Lighting Effects.

Add a Spot for your Photoshop leather style. Scale it roughly as shown in the following image, and then enter all the settings shown below. Make sure that you select Alpha 1 for the Texture and move that Height slider to 20.

Step 4

Focus on the control panel and add a point light for your Photoshop leather style, using the Add new Point Light button.

Click and drag the edges of this point light to scale it around 300. Place it as shown in the following image and then enter all the settings shown below.

Step 5

Use that same Add new Point Light button to add a second point light for your PSD leather texture. Scale it around 300, place it as shown in the following image, and then enter all the settings shown below.

Step 6

Add a third point light for your PSD leather texture. Scale this new point light around 480, place it as shown in the following image, and then enter all the settings shown below.

Once you're done, click that OK button from the control panel.

4. How to Color a Photoshop Leather Texture

Step 1

Go to the Layers panel, add a second layer, and make sure that it stays selected. Swap the Foreground and Background colors, and select the Gradient Tool (G).

Focus on the control panel, select the Radial Gradient button, and make sure that the gradient is set to go from white to transparent white.

Move to your canvas and, with a simple click and drag, draw some random gradients, as shown in the following image.

Step 2

Focus on the Layers panel and lower the Opacity of your selected layer to 3%.

Step 3

You can easily change the color of your PSD leather texture by adding an adjustment layer. Focus on the Layers panel, click the Create a new fill or adjustment layer button, and go to Hue/Saturation.

Check that Colorize box and move the sliders to change the color of your PSD leather texture as you wish.

Step 4

You might have noticed that the Lighting Effects filter added a small border to your leather background (just a few pixels).

To remove it, go to Image > Canvas Size (Alt-Control-C) and reduce the size of the canvas by a few pixels. Click OK, and this Photoshop leather tutorial is complete.

Congratulations! You're Done!

Here is how your Photoshop leather overlay should look. I hope you've enjoyed this Photoshop leather tutorial and can apply these techniques in your future projects. Don't hesitate to share your final leather background in the comments section.

Now that you know how to create a leather texture in Photoshop, feel free to adjust the final design and make it your own. You can find some great sources of inspiration at Envato Elements, with interesting solutions to improve your Photoshop leather overlay.

Popular Leather Textures From Envato Elements

Envato Elements is an excellent resource for Photoshop leather textures. Here's a short list of some of the most popular leather textures and leather backgrounds that you can find.

7 Faux Leather Textures (JPG)

This set of seven colored seamless leather textures is the perfect solution if you don't have the time to learn how to how to make a leather texture in Photoshop.

Set of 4 Leather Textures (JPG)

Save the time that you would have spent learning how to make a leather texture in Photoshop and try these detailed leather textures, which come in four color versions: black, blue, brown, red.

Luxury Leather Textures (JPG, PNG)

This set of high-resolution and high-quality leather textures consists of a leather background with ten color variations.

Black Leather Texture and White Leather Texture (JPG)

The black leather texture and white leather texture from this small pack also come with a detailed stitched effect.

Set of 9 Faux Leather Textures (JPG)

This set of nine faux leather textures comes in various shades of brown and can be used in a wide variety of designs. Create a smooth Photoshop leather overlay with just a few clicks.

Want to Learn More?

We have loads of tutorials on Envato Tuts+, from beginner to intermediate level. Take a look!