What is a digital texture in design? (2026)

What is a texture exactly, and what's the difference between a texture and a pattern? And what are digital papers? As a creative small business owner, I use textures for so many things, and I even create them myself in Photoshop! In this post, I'm gonna give you all the details about what digital textures are, how to use them and where to find them for free.

If you're new here, I write about making money from creative hobbies, digital design, and building a business that actually works for a neurodivergent brain. So glad you're here! 😊

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What is a digital texture and how are they used?

The definition of what a texture is can differ to some people. A texture can be put on a picture in Photoshop to give the photo a texture. It can make the picture look like it's been curled into a ball and straightened again, or as though it was printed in a paper hundred years ago.

But not everyone uses textures for photo editing or mixed media arts. A digital texture is essentially a photo or image that you can use as a background for your designs. They add interest and visual flair to your designs.

Textures can also be used in their own right, as a pretty background on almost any digital product as a visual asset. It can be used as a screensaver, as a background on your phone, or to make your Instagram posts and stories look pretty. Textures are perfect for the covers of digital planners (Check out this post if you want to know how to make a digital planner to sell on Etsy), or to spice up your website. You can also use textures to create digital stickers and text graphics!

The three first textures in this screenshot are from my store on Creative Fabrica

The reason why it's called a texture is because digital papers often imitate textures of things from the real world, like marble, wood, gold or different types of paper.

So call them backgrounds, textures or digital papers. They can usually also be used as wallpapers for your desktop, as long as they are big enough. It's an asset that can be used just like décor paper from your local hobby shop, only digitally. And frankly, once you learn how to use them, it's a lot easier than doing it by hand in real life.

What is the difference between a texture and a pattern?

A pattern is the repetition of a graphic motif, while a texture doesn't have this type of repetition, often because textures are either photographs of a natural surface, or intended to look like one. A texture could also be a digital abstract painting, for example. The process of making a pattern is also a bit more complicated, as you need to place elements in a specific way, especially if you're making a seamless pattern.

What is a seamless pattern?

A seamless pattern is a design that can be repeated infinitely without any visible seams or interruptions. It creates a continuous and consistent appearance when tiled horizontally or vertically. Seamless patterns are commonly used in for example textile design or gift wrapping paper, to create smooth and continuous visuals. Designers ensure that the pattern edges match seamlessly when repeated, providing a cohesive look.

If a pattern is seamless, the size of the original image doesn't matter much if you want to use it for larger surfaces, as it can be repeated in a seamless way.

How are digital textures made?

Textures can be made in various ways. A texture can simply be a photograph of a surface from the real world, for example a close up of abstract paint on paper, a brick wall or a marble kitchen counter. Textures can also be made from scratch in Photoshop using techniques that look like glitter or rust, or paint splatter on paper. The sky is the limit!

Where to find digital textures

If you want to get started without spending anything, check out my post on how to get free high-quality digital papers for your designs. It covers where to find commercial use textures for free, which is genuinely useful when you're just starting out.

I also have my own collection called The Digital Paper Library, which is 100 colorful textures for commercial use with lifetime usage rights. It's a one-time purchase, no subscription, no limits on how many products you can make with them. About 80% of the library isn't available anywhere else, so it's a good option if you want something a bit more unique.

Do you use digital textures in your designs? I'd love to hear what you use them for in the comments! 😊