Putting fabric textures on templates

I have aquired a range of clothing templates to use for making clothes. I am just pretty much starting out in clothing creation, but one thing has me stumped! I have searched the net extensively to no avail. How do you apply fabric textures to templates in Photoshop? For example. I have a dress template which i bought off Xstreet, and I am wanting to put a polka-dot fabric texture onto it so what will intentionally come out of it is a nice polka dot dress. I understand the shading and wrinkles aspect of it all and layers etc, just applying the fabric texture in the first place. Some links, or advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers! Jayda..

If you're just starting,try Natalia Zelmanov's blog. You'll get the basic in nice easy language there... illustrated too. http://www.mermaiddiaries.com/2006/11/build.html

Thanks Rolig for your reply. That site is handy, and I saw it on my search for the specific problem but unfortunately it didnt have what I was after. As I said I know the basics of clothing creation, but maybe not enough...who know's. Just trying to work out how to put a pattern/texture gotten off the net onto a blank (wrinkled or not) template bought off Xstreet......sighhsss...I don't know how else to explain it.....

If I understand you correctly you want to select parts of the UV Map and fill with the texture.

Copy Paste your texture into the Dress template and manually resize, rotate, stretch to fit the UV Mapping

Or alternatively, in Photoshop open your texture, select 'edit' fom the menu bar then select define pattern fom the list that drops down, in the new box that appears rename it if you like and select ok. This saves your Texture in the Patterns folder.

Open your UV Map or dress template then follow the examples fom the link Rolig pasted and instead of applying color select pattern. When selecting Bucket, on the menu bar there is a box that says 'Foreground' select that box and another option appears, select 'Patterns' which is where the default patterns are or any you created, locate and select your pattern and fill.

It might be necessary to resize your original Texture/Pattern in order for it to look right prior to saving it as a defined pattern, if so just remember to either Save a Copy to keep the original intact or edit the original and close without saving. Alternatively you can apply the pattern via Blending Options where you can also scale it to a certain degree without having to resize your original image at all.

Thanks so much Larrie, I'll definately give it a try!!!!!!!

I tried out what you said Larrie!! Hey Presto, it works lol. Just what I was looking for 100 browny points for you )...Mission Complete..

Hi Jayda,

the above is all correct but if you are using PS and only want to make a new layer with a fabric/texture you have, you can actually simply drag and drop the texture into your file. Simple as that. Open both files, grab the texture with the mouse and click & drag it onto the template file. (or "layer" - "duplicate layer" - choose the template file from the drop down menu)

You have to however make sure its in the right place in the template file. Open the layers window, grab your texture layer with the mouse and drag it up or down so its under all the overlay/shading/wrinkles layers but above the base color layer the template has. Think of a collage when looking at the layers window of your template.

But yes you will have to adjust the fabric manually (ctrl+t and when your done Enter) or maybe even copy it (ctrl+j).

Thank you so much Niah, your method works great too . I really appreciate everyone's help in this matter. you are all the best!!!!!! I lovin' my newly found hobby of clothing creation...Thanks again )