Learn how to create a wood texture in the GIMP image editor using noise, motion blur, levels and gradients. You can use the wood to texture 3D models for video games and other types of computer-generated imagery.

New Layer

Create a new layer and call it ‘wood’. Fill the wood layer with black.

Noise

Go to Filters –> Noise –> Hurl

Turn randomization up to 100, and pick whatever repeat value you want.

Desaturate

Go to Colors –> Desaturate –> Desaturate

Pick Value (HSV) for the mode.

Motion blur

Go to Filters –> Blur –> Linear Motion Blur

Increase the length until the texture starts to look like lines. It won’t cover the whole texture, so you will need to use the scale tool to scale the image up until you only see lines.

Levels

Go to Colors –> Levels

Play with the black, grey and white sliders until you get something you like.

Next go to Colors –> Brightness-Contrast

Turn the contrast way up.

Gradient

Create a new layer and pick a gradient with black on either side and white in the middle. Pick Bi-linear for the shape. Next you will probably need to scale the gradient layer up in size, so that there is only white and grey on the screen. Scale it mostly horizontally.

Overlay

Set the blend mode of the gradient layer to overlay. Play around with the scale of both layers, and use the move tool until you are happy.

Colorize

Select the wood layer, and go to Colors –> Colorize

And pick a brown colour.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading this tutorial. Let me know in the comments section if you enjoyed it, or have any questions!