Add a grunge texture to text in Photoshop

Paste a photocopy or concrete texture into a layer mask on the text. Dark marks cut holes in the letters and the text stays editable.

Clean digital type can look too perfect on a poster or a logo. A distressed, printed look comes from punching small holes in the letters with a texture. The cleanest way is a layer mask, so you can undo it at any time.

Step by step (Photoshop)

1. Download a texture with dark marks on white, for example dirty photocopy or concrete grunge.
2. Open the texture, press Ctrl+A (select all) and Ctrl+C (copy).
3. Go back to your design and click the text layer in the Layers panel.
4. Click the Add layer mask button at the bottom of the Layers panel (the rectangle with a circle).
5. Hold Alt (Option on a Mac) and click the white mask thumbnail. The canvas turns white: you are now inside the mask.
6. Press Ctrl+V to paste the texture, then Ctrl+D to deselect.
7. Click the normal layer thumbnail (left of the mask) to leave the mask. Dark parts of the texture now cut holes in the letters.

Control the strength

• Too much damage? Click the mask, press Ctrl+L (Levels) and drag the left slider to the left. Fewer holes.
• Too little? Same Levels window, drag the right slider to the left. More holes.
• Wrong spots? Click the chain icon between the layer and the mask, select the mask and move it with the Move tool.