From Creative Closeup:
One of the best free stuff Graphic Designers can find on the Web for free are high resolution backgrounds and textures. Long gone are the days when you had to buy very expensive CDs in order to obtain good quality backgrounds for your design projects.
By that time, marble and granite textures were all the rage. But now it seems that paper is becoming the new king. Lots of Web Designers are embracing the delicate look of a piece of paper with a subtle shadow. And if it is torn or folded, much better.
This gallery shows some paper backgrounds I collected from different sites. If you would like to add some nice effects to some of these textures, you can read a tutorial I wrote about creating paper folds and creases to paper textures in Photoshop.
Please, read about the usage rights: All of these textures should be free for commercial use, but to be absolutely sure, check each web site usage terms and license before downloading. Below each image sample, there is a link to the usage license. In some cases, where the scope of the license was not clear enough, I placed a link to the author profile so you can contact him. You can also read this excellent Guide to Finding and Using Incredible Flickr Images to help you find more free images for your work.
See the List
Related Reading:
Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things
The Design of Everyday Things
Logo Design Love: A Guide to Creating Iconic Brand Identities
