Quick Realistic Forests on Photoshop

[Neverwish]

Hello, first post here, decided to share a technique I've been using recently to create quick and good looking forests.

Step One: Open your map and create a new layer. Name it "Forest" (or whatever helps you identify it).
Step Two: Double click the layer to open the Layer Styles, we're going to be applying the following styles:

Stroke
Size: 1px
Position: Outside
Blend Mode: Normal
Opacity: 68%
Color: Black

Inner Shadow
Blend Mode: Overlay
Opacity: 40%
Angle: 125
Distance: 0
Choke: 0
Size: 40px

Pattern Overlay
This pattern comes with Photoshop by default. It can be found in the "Nature Patterns" preset and it's called "Grass". If you can't find it, download the zip file attached.
Blend Mode: Normal
Opacity: 100%
Scale: 60% (This will vary a bit depending on the size of your map and the size of your forests. Mess around until you get a scale you're happy with.)

Drop Shadow
Blend Mode: Multiply
Angle: 125
Distance: 2px
Spread: 20%
Size: 3px

Now, the last style we need to apply is the Color Overlay. The reason I left it for last is because this is really up to you. The Color Overlay will decide the color of the forest. As I'm making a map for a snowy region, I gave it a white greenish color.

Color Overlay
Blend Mode: Color
Opacity: 100%

With the Layer Styles done, we are ready to start painting the forest.

Step Three: Grab the Rough Round Bristle brush, set it to the size you want and get painting!
If you can't find the brush, download the zip file attached.

The result!

Hope you guys like it!

[Chick]

Very nice technique. May I suggest you compile it into a .pdf and add that to the thread so it will be more easily used and saved long-term?

Thanks for contributing!

[snodsy]

You don't say which Pattern to use out of the Nature Patterns.

[Chick]

I tried this and I couldn't find any pattern or brush that worked. Could you perhaps post the brush .abr file and the pattern .pat file that you use?

[Neverwish]

Very nice technique. May I suggest you compile it into a .pdf and add that to the thread so it will be more easily used and saved long-term?

Thanks for contributing!

Will do!

You don't say which Pattern to use out of the Nature Patterns.

I tried this and I couldn't find any pattern or brush that worked. Could you perhaps post the brush .abr file and the pattern .pat file that you use?

The pattern is "Grass". It's found in the Nature Patterns preset.
Both the pattern and the brush are included in Photoshop by default. Either way, I uploaded them here as requested.