4/15/2017 IllustratorHowtoMakeaPatternthatSeamlesslyRepeats

Home

Preparation
About This Website
Graphic Design Jobs
Write a Good Resume
Job Interview Tips
Learn About The Job
Finding Inspiration
IllustratorHowtoMakeaPattern
thatRepeatsSeamlessly
OneofthemanypowerfulaidstoillustrationinAdobeIllustratoristhe
facilitytocreateanduserepeatingpatterns.Patternscansaveahuge
amountofbothtimeandprocessingpowerwithoutthemwedbe
steppingandrepeatingobjectsuntilthecowscamehome.
Illustrator:HowtoMakeaPatternTutorialbyNickBeresfordDavies

Software to Learn
Student CC Discount
Graphic Design Blog

Design Book Store

Value Your Clients

Basics

Common Paper Sizes

Color Mode Basics
Color Management

Press-Ready Images
Typography Design

PrintProcess

Process/Spot Printing

http://www.graphicdesignemployment.com/illustratorhowtomakeapattern.html 1/19
4/15/2017 IllustratorHowtoMakeaPatternthatSeamlesslyRepeats

Image File Formats

Overprinting Issues
Pre-Press Checklist

Photoshop

Clipping Path Cutouts

Cutouts That Blend
Four Hair Cut Outs
Cutout Hair Tut #01
Cutout Hair Tut #02
Cutout Hair Tut #03

Cutout Hair Tut #04

Gimp v Photoshop
Bitmap Tutorial
Bling Layer Effects
Glassy Layer Styles
Photoshop Glass Tips

Illustrator

Illustrator Tutorials
Illustrator Live Trace
Create Vector Logo
Illustrator Patterns
Lotsofdesignerssteerclearofpatternsforacoupleofreasons.Until
Illustrator Triangles
AdobeIllustratorCS6,existingpatternswatcheswereuneditableand
How to Cut Shapes inflexible.Ifyoudidntlikethepatternswatchesprovided,youdhaveto
eithercreateyourownorflattenthetransparencyofanobjectfilledwith
Document Sizes AI apatternswatch,expanditsattributesandmanuallyedittheresulting
Convert Text to Paths artwork.

AI Illustration Tips Thesecondreasonforavoidingthemhasbeenthatifyoudidcreateyour

ownrepeatingpattern,onceitwasintheswatchespalette,italso
Illustrator Gradients becameinflexibleanduneditable.ThishasbeenchangedinIllustrator

http://www.graphicdesignemployment.com/illustratorhowtomakeapattern.html 2/19
4/15/2017
Gradient Mesh Tool
Make a Dotted Line
Convert a CC EPS
InDesign,Quark
Create InDesign Files
qxd indd Text Extract
Convert QXD to INDD
QXD to INDD Example
Q2ID In Action
ID2Q In Action
Convert PUB to INDD
Quark Style Sheets
InDesign Style Sheets
5th Black Spot Color
INDD Transparency
InDesign Tutorials
Multiple Page Spread
Drop Shadow Issue
Reshaping an Advert
PDFFiles
PDF Files to DTP
Convert PDF to INDD
Convert PDF to Quark
Convert .PUB to .PDF
Edit PDF Files Part 1
Edit PDF Files Part 2
Workflow
http://www.graphicdesignemployment.com/illustratorhowtomakeapattern.html
IllustratorHowtoMakeaPatternthatSeamlesslyRepeats
CS6there'snowanewPatternOptionscontrolpanelthatallows
infinitelymorecontroloverbothexistingandcustompatterns.
ThepurposeofthistutorialistoexplaininIllustratorhowtomakea
pattern,whetheryoureusingIllustratorCS5(orearlier)orIllustrator
CS6.Theprocessofdesigningandcreatingapatternisthesameforboth
earlierversionsaswellasCS6.Onlyafterthepatternhasbeendefined
doyouseenoticeabledifferencesinthewaythatIllustratorCS6handles
thepatternswatch.
Letscreatethepatterndesignfirstthough.
CS5andCS6IllustratorHowtoMakeaPattern
IntheSwatchesPaletteofIllustratoryoullfindthreedistinctswatch
types.Theseare:
ColorSwatches
GradientSwatches
PatternSwatches
WellbefocusingonthePatternSwatches.Toaccessthemselect
Window/Swatches.WiththeSwatchespaletteopen,clickthesmallShow
SwatchKindsmenuatthebottom.Fromthepopupmenu,selectShow
PatternSwatches.
Totestanyswatchpresets,createanewdocumentandusetheRectangle
Tooltocreateaboxtofill.ClickontheSwatchLibrariesmenutoreveal
alonglistofcolor,gradientandpatternswatches.RolloverthePatterns
optionandyoullfindBasicGraphicpatterns,Decorativepatternsand
Naturepatterns.Chooseanyofthesetofilltherectangleandyoullsee
thepatterninaction.
3/19
4/15/2017 IllustratorHowtoMakeaPatternthatSeamlesslyRepeats

10 Design Tools
Typing Accent Marks
Proofreading Marks
Proofreading Basics
Adobe Bridge

Video Tutorials
Royalty Free Images
Font Recognition

WebDesign

Using Dreamweaver
Website Projects

DesignServices

Year Planners

FurtherInfo

Add to Earnings
Clickbank Income
Dreamstime Income
Affiliate Income

ForthepurposesofthistutorialIdliketocreateanewpatternthatwas
influencedbyatraditionalIslamicstarandcrossceramicmosaicIsaw
recentlyattheBritishMuseum:

http://www.graphicdesignemployment.com/illustratorhowtomakeapattern.html 4/19
4/15/2017 IllustratorHowtoMakeaPatternthatSeamlesslyRepeats

Beforegettingstartedthough,letscreatearandom,simplepatternjust
togiveyouaquickanddirtyideahowpatternsworkinIllustrator.

CreatearandompatterninIllustrator
Quicklycreateanumberofrandomshapesfilledwithrandomcolors.
SelectthewholegroupandselectEdit/DefinePattern.Adialoguewindow
willappearrequestinganameforthenewpatterngiveitanameof
yourchoice.ClickOK.Youcannowdeletetheoriginalgroupofobjects.

NowwhenyoulookinthePatternSwatcheswindowyoullseeanew
swatchtheoneyoujustcreated.Makeanewrectangleusingthe
RectangleToolandfillitwiththenewpatternbyensuringthatFill(as
opposedtoStroke)isselectedatthebottomoftheToolBarandclicking
onthenewpatternswatch.

ThatsprettymuchallthereistoitinIllustratorCS5andearlier.Ifyou
wantedtoeditthepatternwithinthefilledshape,youdneedtoselectthe
rectangleandchooseObject/Expand.Youdthenbeabletoselect

http://www.graphicdesignemployment.com/illustratorhowtomakeapattern.html 5/19
4/15/2017 IllustratorHowtoMakeaPatternthatSeamlesslyRepeats

individualitemswithinthepatternandtweakthem.WhatIreallywantto
dothoughiscreateaseamless,repeatingpatternliketheoneatthetop
ofthepage.

AllIllustratorrepeatingpatternsaremadeupoftiles.Thesimplestway
tocreateapatternistohavethetilessquareorrectangularinshape,so
thattheycanbuttupagainsteachotherwithoutleavinganyspaceor
gapsinbetweeneachother.Whenwecreatedtherandompatternabove,
therewasspacearoundeachinstanceofthetilebecausethepattern
generatorwascreatingitsownsquarestorenderthepattern.

Inordertocreateanewpattern,thefirststepistocreateadesign.The
secondstepistoidentifyasquareorrectangularareathatwillbe
repeatedandcropeverythingelseout.Thethirdstepwillbetodefine
thepatternswatchitself.
IllustratorHowtoMakeaPattern

Step1:CreateaPatternDesign
ThepatternIcreatedforthisarticlewasfairlysimpletoputtogether.If
youstudyityoullseethatitsjustmadeupoflotsofsquareslaidover
eachother,halfofwhicharerotatedby45.Iusedagridtocreatethe
squaresandjustkeptcreatingmoreonnewlayerswithdifferentfill
colorsuntilIwashappywiththeresult.

http://www.graphicdesignemployment.com/illustratorhowtomakeapattern.html 6/19
4/15/2017 IllustratorHowtoMakeaPatternthatSeamlesslyRepeats

Asaguide,Ifoundasketchthatbrokedownthebasicshapesofthestar
andcrossdesign(seesourcebelow):

Source:D0zyD0g
http://www.graphicdesignemployment.com/illustratorhowtomakeapattern.html 7/19
4/15/2017 IllustratorHowtoMakeaPatternthatSeamlesslyRepeats

ThenusingacombinationoftheRectangleTool,RotateToolandUnite
optioninthePathfinderpalette,Ibuiltthepatternup.Onceyougettothe
finalstage,whenyoucanmanuallybuiltthepatternupbycopyingand
placingtherepeatingelements,youneedtogetittoapointwhereyou
cancreatearepeatingtile.

IllustratorHowtoMakeaPattern

Step2:CreateaRepeatingTileUsing
theCropTool
Howtoremoveareasoutsideoutsideaclipping
mask
NormallywhenmaskingaspecificareaofadesignIwouldusethe
Object/ClippingMasktool.Thebestreasonforusingthisisthatyoucan
alwaysremovethemasklater,orworkwithinittoadjustitscontent.In
otherwords,itsanondestructivewayofworking.

http://www.graphicdesignemployment.com/illustratorhowtomakeapattern.html 8/19
4/15/2017 IllustratorHowtoMakeaPatternthatSeamlesslyRepeats

However,ifyouuseaclippingmasktocreateapatterntile,whenyou
definethepattern,everythinghiddenbytheclippingmaskwillbe
includedintheswatch,thusleavingyouwithlotsofunwantedwhite
space.Whatyoureallywanttodoiscompletelyeraseeverythingoutside
theclippingmask.

Thewaytodothisisnottousetheclippingmaskatall.Insteadusethe
CropbuttoninthePathfinderpalette.

UsetheCropTooltodeleteeverythingoutside
themask
BeforeyouusetheCropTool,makeaduplicateofthewholepattern(so
thatyoucanretaintheoriginal)andconvertallstrokestooutlines:
Object/Path/OutlineStroke.Thisisanimportantstagebecausethe
PathfinderCroptoolwontdoitsjobproperlyifthereareanystrokesin
thedesign.

Afteryouvedonethis,grouptheelementsofthepatternandcreatea
square(orarectangle)overthetop.Scaleandpositionitpreciselywhere
thecornersoftherepeatingtilewillbe.

http://www.graphicdesignemployment.com/illustratorhowtomakeapattern.html 9/19
4/15/2017 IllustratorHowtoMakeaPatternthatSeamlesslyRepeats

NowinsteadofusingtheClippingMaskTool,withthepatterngroupand
squareselected,clicktheCropbuttoninthePathfinder.Thiswill
completelyremove(notjusthide)theareasofthepatternoutsidethe
repeatingtile.

http://www.graphicdesignemployment.com/illustratorhowtomakeapattern.html 10/19
4/15/2017 IllustratorHowtoMakeaPatternthatSeamlesslyRepeats

Uptothispointtheprocessofcreatingthepatterndesignhasbeenpretty
muchidenticalforbothIllustratorCS5andCS6.Thisiswheretheypart
ways,however.
IllustratorHowtoMakeaPattern

Step3a:HowtoDefineaPatternin
IllustratorCS5(orearlier)
NowcomesthemomentwhenweaddthenewtiletoourPatternSwatch
palette.SimplyselectthetileandchooseEdit/DefinePattern...Awindow
willopengivingyoutheopportunitytonameyournewpatternswatch.
Nameit,clickOKandyoullseethenewswatchappearinthePattern
Swatchespalette.Nowyoucancreateashapeandfillitwitha
(hopefully)perfectrepeatingpattern.

http://www.graphicdesignemployment.com/illustratorhowtomakeapattern.html 11/19
4/15/2017 IllustratorHowtoMakeaPatternthatSeamlesslyRepeats

http://www.graphicdesignemployment.com/illustratorhowtomakeapattern.html 12/19
4/15/2017 IllustratorHowtoMakeaPatternthatSeamlesslyRepeats

ThatsitforIllustratorCS5(andearlierversions).Ifyouwanttoeditthe
patternorgetittotileinadifferentway,youllhavetogobackafew
stagesandredefinethepattern.Alternativelyyoucanselect
Object/Expandwiththefilleditemselected.Thiswillbreakthepatternup
intoaneditabledesign,althoughyoullonlybeabletomakeeditsto
specificareasofthedesignyoureditswontbecarriedovertothe
remainderofthepatterndesign.
IllustratorHowtoMakeaPattern

Step3b:HowtoDefineaPatternin
IllustratorCS6
TodefinethepatterninCS6,selectthetileyoujustcreatedandchoose
Object/Pattern/Make.Awindowwillappearthatsays:

ThenewpatternhasbeenaddedtotheSwatchespanel.Anychanges
madewhileinPatternEditingModewillbeappliedtotheswatchupon
exit.

http://www.graphicdesignemployment.com/illustratorhowtomakeapattern.html 13/19
4/15/2017 IllustratorHowtoMakeaPatternthatSeamlesslyRepeats

PatternEditingMode?Cool!Finallyawaytoeditapatternafteritsbeen
created.Nexttothewindow(youcanclickOKnow)youllseeabrand
newcontrolpanelcalledPatternOptions.Youllalsonoticethataround

http://www.graphicdesignemployment.com/illustratorhowtomakeapattern.html 14/19
4/15/2017 IllustratorHowtoMakeaPatternthatSeamlesslyRepeats

yourtilethepatternhasrepeateditselfwithreducedopacitysothatyou
canpreviewwhatthepatternwilllooklikewhenapplied.

PlayaroundwiththesettingsinPatternOptions.Youcannowadjustthe
waythetilesbuttupagainsteachother(seetheoptionsunderTileType),
alterthespacebetweenthetiles,dictatehowmanytilesyouwantinthe
patternandsoon.

Thismeansthatyourenotnecessarilytieddowntorectanglesand
squaresifyouwanttocreateaseamlesstile.Ifyouexamineonthethe
presetpatternsthatshipwithIllustratorCS6,youllseewhatImean.
Giveoneofthematry.SelectWindow/Swatch
Libraries/Patterns/Nature/Nature_FoliageandclickonceontheLeaves
http://www.graphicdesignemployment.com/illustratorhowtomakeapattern.html 15/19
4/15/2017 IllustratorHowtoMakeaPatternthatSeamlesslyRepeats

TropicalColorswatch.Aninstanceofthisswatchwillnowappearinyour
PatternSwatchespalette.DoubleclickthisnewswatchandthePattern
Optionseditingmodewillopen.

Onthisswatchyoullseethatthepatterntileisntboundedbyasquare
thistimeitsahexagon.InPatternOptionstheTileTypeisHexbyRow.
IfyouchangetheTileTypetoBrickbyRowandthewidth&heightto
17.5mmeach,theresultismuchthesame.Playwiththesesettingsa
littlemoreandyoullseehowmuchcontrolyounowhaveoverthe
pattern.

http://www.graphicdesignemployment.com/illustratorhowtomakeapattern.html 16/19
4/15/2017 IllustratorHowtoMakeaPatternthatSeamlesslyRepeats

Havefun!

DownloadroyaltyfreevectorgraphicsVector
PacksfromVectorVice

Resources&MoreInformation
RoyaltyFreeVectorPacks
IllustratorLiveTrace
IllustratorHowtoCreateaLogo
IllustratorHowtoConvertTexttoOutlines
IllustratorHowtoCreateLineArt
ClicktogototopofIllustratorHowtoMakeaPattern

14Comments Sortby Oldest

Addacomment...

RemiCasrod
WorksatDubai,UnitedArabEmirates
thks
LikeReplyNov6,20125:39am

KyambaddeFrancisco
GraphicdesigneratGagawalaGraphics
Thanks
LikeReplyApr7,20131:44pm

SamuelCapell
WorksatSamuelCapell
Simplebutingreatdetails.Excellentpost.
LikeReply 1May29,20132:31am

KendraLeeOberhauser
http://www.graphicdesignemployment.com/illustratorhowtomakeapattern.html 17/19
4/15/2017 IllustratorHowtoMakeaPatternthatSeamlesslyRepeats
KendraLeeOberhauser

THANKYOU!Youhelpedmefigureoutthecropissue.
LikeReplyJul5,201310:32pm

MelsGotScrilla
ApprenticeTechnicianatAutoServiceFinancial/OnDaGrizzy
I'mconfusedabit,didyouuniteeveryrectangleumadetogetthosedivisions
inside??
LikeReplyApr22,201410:39am

JackieRyderDesign
Thishasbeensohelpfulingettingridofunwantedstuffoutsidemyrepeattile
thanks
LikeReplyJun18,20145:37pm

SeenaMenon
Hi...veryusefulpost.amusingcs5..andwhilecroppingtheportionoutside
clipmask...fewdesignelimentslostandfewareoverlapping...kindlyhelp
LikeReplyAug24,20156:31am

HadiPurnomo
KacungatGrasakFuckAudio
nicetutorial,thank'sforinformation

http://multimedianotes90.blogspot.com
LikeReplyOct29,20157:12pm

ChristinaShekYamazaki
Wooopeee,gladIfoundthispage.Helpedmeheaps.Thanksforsharingx
LikeReplyDec14,20154:38pm

CherryJaneLora
SystemsAdministratoratSalesforce
thanksyousooomuch,imhavingtroublewiththecroptool SOLVED!
LikeReplyDec27,201511:21am
http://www.graphicdesignemployment.com/illustratorhowtomakeapattern.html 18/19
4/15/2017 IllustratorHowtoMakeaPatternthatSeamlesslyRepeats
LikeReplyDec27,201511:21am

MarcuIoachim
Bucharest,Romania
Useful
LikeReplyAug5,20163:53am

LanddMaharaj
Highschoolofsex
patternoptionisnotshowninobjectsdropdownmenu.imusingcs5version
ofAi

Tweet 4 Like 65

SearchGraphicDesignEmployment.com
CustomSearch Search

by Nick Beresford Davies | www.graphic-design-employment.com | Google+

Training, advice, resources, confidence building for graphic designers

http://www.graphicdesignemployment.com/illustratorhowtomakeapattern.html 19/19