Hello Kelly,

Here is a method that I use:

First place a photo of a wall or floor and use "Live Trace" default

You will end up with a black and white texture like this:

Then Select all the white areas and delete them. If you have a lot of black texture, feel free to delete as much as you want. You can always copy and paste pieces wherever you want.

Now Place your design on top of the texture you have created. Then send the design to the back.

The last step is to select the outlined text and the compound shapes and apply "Subtract From Shape Area" with Pathfinder. Please note that this option does not work on CS3 from the menu (one of the hundred of bugs of this lousy version), so please use the Pathfinder Window.

And this is the end result:

This was a quick sample, but I am sure you can do something a lot better than this sample. I think the difficult part is to get a good photo. Maybe next time I will use a damaged concrete floor or wall photo.

I hope this helps!

This is really helpful thank you! I am having a problem when I do this, I followed all the steps and when I subtract, all of my letters and border of my stamp design disappears, bar the first letter. The letter looks correct with the texture etc, but I have lost the rest of the design. I'm not sure where I have gone wrong. Can anyone help?

Message was edited by: purplewhiskers

I just figured a solution out. I made my design a compound path, this kept all the pieces in when I did the subtraction step.

You might want to post some screenshots or something.  Give us something to work with, eh?  "My thing isn't working - why not?" is not an easily answered question.

Some design are very good and nice conversation

Thanks

<a herf="http://www.acornsaless.webs.com/">Art Rubber Stamp</a>

Great tutorial. One question,

What is the difference between select>same>fill color

and just using the direct selection tool>clicking white areas> and hitting delete

And as someone mentioned a couple replies back. Using the magic wand>clicking white areas> and hitting delete

What are the differences here?? Or are they just different ways to get the same result, or is their something worth noting between these methods.

Thanks