Jessica Drossin Free Digital Photography Resources and Textures

The provided source material documents the availability and nature of free digital resources offered by photographer Jessica Drossin, specifically focusing on digital backgrounds, textures, and promotional offers related to her photography products. These resources are primarily targeted at photographers and digital artists seeking to enhance their images using Photoshop tools. The sources indicate that Jessica Drossin operates a business selling photography assets such as actions, overlays, presets, and textures, while also providing select items at no cost to users. The free offerings include a digital background inspired by the Mona Lisa and a texture file named "harper." Additionally, the sources describe community engagement through a Flickr group and a discount offer for a specific audience.

Free Digital Backgrounds and Textures

Jessica Drossin provides specific digital assets for free download, primarily intended for use in Adobe Photoshop. These assets are distributed through her website and potentially via other platforms associated with her brand.

Mona Lisa-Inspired Digital Background:
A digital background inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is available as a free product. According to the product listing, this item is a JPG file compatible with Adobe Photoshop, Creative Cloud, and Photoshop Elements. The listing explicitly states that the product "will not work in Lightroom." The background is described as a "lower resolution" version; a high-resolution version for print appears to be available for purchase but is currently listed as "out of stock." Users are requested to credit Jessica Drossin if they utilize the free background in their work.
Texture "Harper":
A free texture file identified as "harper" is mentioned in a Flickr upload dated June 4, 2012. The upload description refers to it as a "freebie texture 'harper', Jessica Drossin Texture." This suggests that Jessica Drossin has historically distributed texture files at no cost to users. The specific method of acquisition for this texture (e.g., direct download link, sign-up requirement) is not detailed in the available source data.

Usage and Application

The source material includes a blog post by Rebecca Danzenbaker that details the practical application of texture files, specifically mentioning a texture likely obtained from Jessica Drossin's freebies section. The post describes a workflow for applying textures to photographs in Photoshop:

Open the texture JPG as a layer above the target photo.
Select either the "Overlay" or "Soft Light" blend mode to integrate the texture.
To prevent the texture from affecting skin tones, the user can paint over the skin areas on the texture layer using the color of the layer (presumably white or a neutral tone) to remove the texture effect from those specific areas.

The post notes that this technique can create a "vintage look" or make photos appear "like paintings on canvas." While the author attributes the specific texture used in the example to Jessica Drossin's freebies section, she notes she is "not positive" of the exact origin and requests verification for proper credit. This indicates that Jessica Drossin's textures are utilized by other photographers for creative editing purposes.

Promotional Offers and Discounts

One source mentions a specific promotional offer directed at readers of "Digital Photo Mentor." This offer provides a 15% discount on items in Jessica Drossin's store. To apply the discount, users must use the checkout code "DPM15." This code represents a targeted marketing effort to reach a specific audience interested in photography education and editing techniques.

Community and Support

Jessica Drossin maintains a community presence through a Flickr group titled "Jessica Drossin's Beautiful World - Actions, Overlays, Presets." This group, established in October 2009, serves as a forum for users to discuss her products and seek assistance.

Discussions: The group features discussions regarding the use of her products. Topics include troubleshooting issues with loading textures into Photoshop Elements ("PSE"), inquiries about which textures were used on specific images, and general appreciation for her work.
Freebies and Contests: Historical posts within the group indicate that Jessica Drossin has hosted contests and distributed freebies to group members. One post from approximately 14 years ago references a "FREEBIE & CONTEST (ends Oct. 19!)".
Support: The group appears to be a venue for user support, with Jessica Drossin personally responding to questions and facilitating discussions.

Professional Background and Reputation

Sources provide context regarding Jessica Drossin's professional standing in the photography industry. She is described as an internationally published, self-taught fine art portrait photographer based in Los Angeles. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art (Painting) and has a background working for video game companies such as Blizzard Entertainment.

Her accolades include winning the 2013 Emerging Professional Fine Art Photographer award from Digital Photo Pro Magazine. Her work has been featured in publications such as Digital Photo Pro, Digital SLR, Wedding Nouveau, and Practical Photography. She specializes in natural light portraiture and retouching using her own proprietary Photoshop actions, overlays, and textures.

In the context of photography competitions, Jessica Drossin is recognized as a certified ViewBug editor. ViewBug is a photography contest website. A user on the "Ugly Hedgehog" forum noted that being a certified ViewBug editor places her among a small group of individuals, including Martin Evening and others, who judge these contests. This status reinforces her authority and expertise in the field of photography and image editing.

Technical Specifications and Limitations

The source data includes specific technical details regarding the free digital background:

File Format: JPG.
Compatibility: Adobe Photoshop, Creative Cloud, Photoshop Elements.
Incompatibility: Adobe Lightroom.
Resolution: The free version is "lower resolution." High-resolution versions are sold separately (currently out of stock).

Users interested in utilizing these resources should be aware of these limitations, particularly the lack of Lightroom support, which requires the use of Photoshop-based software for editing.

Conclusion

The available source material confirms that Jessica Drossin offers free digital photography assets, including textures and digital backgrounds, to the public. These assets are compatible with Adobe Photoshop and are distributed alongside paid products in her store. A notable free item is a lower-resolution, Mona Lisa-inspired digital background, which requires crediting the artist upon use. The photographer also engages with her user base through a dedicated Flickr community and offers promotional discounts, such as a 15% code for Digital Photo Mentor readers. Jessica Drossin is an established professional in the fine art photography sector, recognized for her retouching skills and contributions to photography education and competitions.