From this tutorial, you will learn how to create a realistic water surface texture in Photoshop from scratch using several basic filters and adjustment layers. You can easily create your own water texture of the desired size. This texture can be used to create a water reflection effect as a displacement map.
Final image:
Step 1
Open Photoshop and create a new document 1500 x 1000 px. Name the first layer Water surface and fill with white. Make sure that the primary color is white, the background color is black. Layer Water surface convert to a smart object (right-click on the layer and select the command Convert to smart object (Convert to smart object)). Then go to menu Filter> Noise (Filter> Noise) and apply a filter AddNoise (Add Noise).
Step 2
Go to menu Filter> Blur (Filter> Blur) and select Gaussian blur (Gaussian blur).
Go to menu Filter> Sketch (Filter> Sketch) and select Chalk and charcoal (Chalk and coal) to create an abstract effect.
Reapply the filter Gaussian blur (Blur according to Gauss) with the following parameters:
Go to menu Filter> Sketch (Filter> Sketch) and select Bas relief (Relief).
Step 3
To make our water texture more realistic, add another filter to it. MotionBlur (Motion blur). All changes, see the screenshot below.
Apply again Gaussian blur (Gaussian blur).
Step 4
Now add an adjustment layer. GradientMap (Gradient Map) using the button Create a new fill or adjustment layer (Create a new fill layer or adjustment layer) at the bottom of the panel Layers (Layers).
Colors for GradientMap (Gradient Map) from # 18548b to # 5394b9.
Step 5
Create a new layer. Water texture. Fill it with white and convert it to a smart object. Add this layer the same smart filters as before, but with different settings. First, apply AddNoise (Add Noise).
Go to menu Filter > Sketch > HalftonePattern (Filter> Sketch> Halftone Pattern).
Add a filter Bas relief (Relief) through the menu Filter > Sketch > BasRelief (Filter> Sketch> Relief).
Step 6
Next, apply the filter MotionBlur (Blur in motion) through the menu Filter > Blur > MotionBlur (Filter> Blur> Motion Blur).
Add a filter Gaussian blur (Gaussian Blur) through the menu Filter > Blur > Gaussian blur (Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur).
Set to layer Water texture overlay mode Softlight (Soft light).
Step 7
Add adjustment layer Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast) with clipping mask for layer Water texture To do this, click on it with the right mouse button and select the command Create Clipping Mask (Create clipping mask).
Step 8
Add a fill layer Gradient (Gradient), colors: from # 070605 to # fbf4cd.
Set the blending mode for the gradient. Soft Light (Soft Light) with Opacity (Opacity) 50%.
Step 9
Select layers as final touches Water surface and Water texture and go to menu Edit > Transform > Perspective (Edit> Transform> Perspective).
Well, here is the final result of our realistic water texture created from scratch in Photoshop. Hope you enjoyed our tutorial.
