For those readers that missed our most popular review article of 2009 here it is again!
Where can I get FREE textures?
I wish I had a nickle for everytime I’ve heard that questions asked. Textures and grunge are all the rage in photography post processing today. What’s new is old so to speak and because I love you I’ve scoured the interwebs to share with you the very best FREE textures we could find. Trust me you’ll want to bookmark this thread!
What types of textures do they have to offer? They like to keep it simple, this pack has one theme “Vintage”.
Legal Mumbo Jumbo - There is no declarative legal statement on the page but if you like them you should find a way to thank them be it by paypal or by blog mention.
What did we like about them? This is probably one of the sweetest texture packs I’ve seen. Used on the right intimate or boudoir photo these could knock an ordinary image straight out of the ballpark.
What types of textures do they have to offer? Concrete, Dirt, Sand, Fabric, Glass, Grunge, Liquids, Metals, Paint, Plaster, Plastic, Rubber, Rust, Stone, Rock, Wood and Plant.
Legal Mumbo Jumbo - The stock photographs on this site are free for use in any situation by anyone with only one exception. DO NOT sell, redistribute, or host any of the stock photos that are found on this site.
What did we like about them? While they only list a grand total of 337 textures they are all FREE to use without commercial restriction and they are of quite decent size.
What types of textures do they have to offer? According to them they offer Gritty, Grimy and Slimy textures.
Legal Mumbo Jumbo - Yes. The photos featured on this site are currently free for you to download for both commercial and non-commercial use. All we ask is that you credit urbandirty.com, somewhere, somehow. All photos are released under a Creative Commons Licence.
What did we like about them? They have a TOOLBAR to help you find the perfect dirty when you need it so there is no need to go downloading tons of textures that you might not ever use.
What types of textures do they have to offer? They have 18 categories of textures including: Aluminum, Asphalt, Brick, Concrete, Drains/Vents/Grates, Graffiti/Vandalism, Metal, Mud/Clay/Earth, Old Machines, Paper, Paint, Rusted Metal, Spills/Splatters, Stone, Tombstones, Trash/Garbage, Wood, and Other how’s that for vague?
Legal Mumbo Jumbo - Our textures are provided under a Creative Commons License. Please credit grungetextures.com wherever images are used.
What did we like about them? A nice selection (sub 1000 total if I had to guess) of good size images and I especially liked their vandalism section. Great stuff for seniors.
What types of textures do they have to offer? They have 18 categories of textures including: Aluminum, Asphalt, Brick, Concrete, Drains/Vents/Grates, Graffiti/Vandalism, Metal, Mud/Clay/Earth, Old Machines, Paper, Paint, Rusted Metal, Spills/Splatters, Stone, Tombstones, Trash/Garbage, Wood, and Other how’s that for vague?
Legal Mumbo Jumbo - Free textures for layers. Photos of things around my house. This set is a work in progress. I hope to add many more photos for everyone to enjoy. Please, help yourself, and have fun!
What did we like about them? It’s flickr what’s not to love. Though seriously this is a pretty rocking set of images that were sourced primarily for photographers to use as layers. The only problem is that they are not so organized.
What types of textures do they have to offer? They have 18 categories of photoshop ready textures that include: Brick, Concrete, Dirt, Sand, Fabric, Carpet, Glass, Grunge, Liquid, Water, Metal, Paint, Paper, Plants, Plaster, Plastic, Rubber, Rust, Stone, Rock, Tile and Wood.
Legal Mumbo Jumbo - If you like what you see, and if you find our background photos useful, we simply ask that you add a quick link to your blog or website!
What did we like about them? I liked their grunge, stone and a few of their glass textures. Glass can make for some really excellent textures if you can find the right one.
What types of textures do they have to offer? They have the FREE kind and tend to lean towards the grunge, stained and dirty end of the spectrum.
Legal Mumbo Jumbo - It wasn’t very clear but it says FREE! I say give him some blog love if you like what he has to offer.
What did we like about them? As far as I’m concerned this is like hitting the texture lottery. The things they have done with paper are just plain naughty! Not to mention the fire and flame series as well as concrete set. Be sure to grab their 300+ Hi-Res Grunge texture pack too. Can you tell I love this site?
What types of textures do they have to offer? I’ll have to summarize for this one, basically they have one of everything.
Legal Mumbo Jumbo - Usage varies by texture author but most are FREE and only require credit in order to be used. Many will want you to email them a link so they can see what you’ve done with their help.
What did we like about them? The Deviant ART texture section is like a catchall of sorts but with a bit of hardwork and a little bit of time you can find some of the best texture collections I’ve seen on the net.
What types of textures do they have to offer? Various but all are packs intended for designers that will have photography applications.
Legal Mumbo Jumbo - Again here usage restrictions vary but most of them are FREE of charge.
What did we like about them? I’m a big fan of off the beaten path and this qualifies. There are quite a few unique textures that I know I can make use of creatively.
What types of textures do they have to offer? It’s pot luck at bittbox! They have “Free Texture Tuesdays” feature and who knows what you’ll get.
Legal Mumbo Jumbo - Again, these say FREE but the usage rights are not very clearly spelled out.
What did we like about them? There are some patterns and textures on bittbox that you simply will not find anywhere else. It’s a great place to cruise for extreme applications IMHO.
What types of textures do they have to offer? A bit like bittbox above Lost and Taken is another potluck site where you take what you can get.
Legal Mumbo Jumbo - Yet again, these say FREE but the usage rights are not very clearly spelled out. Though they do have a donate tab so if you’re making money with their textures you should share the wealth.
What did we like about them? Another extreme texture site that has serious potential when they are used creatively.
If you have a texture site or texture pack that we have not mentions or one that you would like to share with us drop a note in the comments section below.
25 Comments at "Top 10 Sites for Free Textures"
Not saying it is correct, but McAfee SiteAdvisor warns against visiting Media Design Blueprint by giving the message “we found it may be designed to trick you into submitting your financial or personal information to online scammers”.
Thanks for including DS , theres anouther site called Texture Lovers http://www.texturelovers.com/ all the textures are free for personal and commercial use
oh and i forgot to mention yes the ones on Design Shard are totally free, for personal and commercial use no need for link backs and credit etc if you use them
Mike I was able to download the files just fine from media design blueprint using the FREE option which while slow required me to input no data on my part.
I used the mediafire download option btw not the big download button.
It came thru virus free and A O.K.
Check out CG Textures at http://www.cgtextures.com
recently changed from completely free to signing up for membership to get the biggest sizes. still huge variety for free at large sizes.
Great list, my site also offers a wide variety of high resolution textures to use in personal and commercial projects and is updated regularly
Forgot to put the closing tag in there!
Great list, my site Circlebox Textures also offers a wide variety of high resolution textures to use in personal and commercial projects and is updated regularly
a thought if you say I wish I had a nickle for everytime I’ve heard that questions asked you would have a nickle,
What you want is a nickle for each time you heard the expression.
[...] DWF » Blog Archive » Top 10 Sites for Free Textures (tags: photography resources texture) [...]
Thank you for sharing the different links. I found the information to be very useful. I did not know these types of website even existed. Thanks again!
[...] you’re looking for some awesome FREE PHOTOSHOP TEXTURES look no further than our TOP 10 FREE TEXTURE ROUNDUP article. Back Home Tweet This!Share this on [...]
Great sites for texture downloads. Thanks for sharing!
[...] gonna want to cool textures for some of these projects so be sure to have a peak at our very own Top 10 Sites for FREE Textures Roundup. Back Home Tweet This!Share this on FacebookPost this to MySpaceShare this on del.icio.usDigg [...]
Very great site.
The message here is genuinely useful.
I will tell my friends.
Cheers
But aren’t textures like totally 2 years ago? Soon to go the way of spot coloring and brides & grooms in champagne glasses. Or am I just the jaded old lady now?
[...] Bash Corpo [...]
[...] TOP 10 SITES FOR FREE TEXTURES [...]
[...] Need help with textures? Watch this how to apply textures video and grab tons of quality Free textures after reading our Top 10 Texture Sites Round-up. [...]
Looking for more? I have a list here at http://www.letsplayphotography.blogspot.com.
Thanks Lutz, I’ve added a link to your blog post on my blog.
Jenny Lee
[...] them here and if you liked that. Be sure to checkout our ultimate free texture roundup post. Back [...]
[...] enough dirty and filth for you? Read our FREE texture roundup [...]
Texturelib – free texture library.
Excellent quality. Conveniently categorized. Most of the images are 3264 x 2448. Free for commercial and personal use.
Another site for you! I’ve recently launched Free Textures from Texturegen which is a rapidly growing resource for quality textures and backgrounds.
So useful selection, but a little bit old
we making nice textures too!
Great Sites !
Check also
http://www.texturequalitypro.com
for some good free textures.
Ciao
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