Creating and editing patterns

To create a pattern from scratch
To create a pattern from an image
To create a pattern from a selection
To create a masked pattern
To edit a pattern

You can create a pattern from scratch or from an existing image. When creating a pattern from an existing image, you can base the pattern on the entire image or a selected area. You can also create a pattern from a mask, which produces a pattern with a transparent background. The image or selection that you choose is converted into a tile that, when repeated, generates a pattern.

A pattern tile was created by applying brushstrokes to the canvas.

If you want to edit an existing pattern, or if a pattern preview isn’t detailed enough, you can open the pattern tile in its own window so that you can view the pattern closely to modify it. For example, you can manipulate a pattern to be a half-drop design, traditionally used in wallpaper designs.

After creating a pattern tile, you may want to refine it so that it tiles seamlessly. For more information, see Creating seamless patterns.

Images that you turn into patterns are saved in the RIFF format, and they maintain their pattern characteristics even after you save and reopen them. You can switch libraries whenever you want to use a different set of patterns. For more information, see Working with libraries.

Creating patterns on layers

You can use the same techniques to create patterns on layers as you do to create them on the canvas. However, a pattern’s wrap-around features do not apply to layers. This is because the canvas has edges, but layers do not — they are unlimited in size. If you shift a pattern on a layer, the pattern does not wrap around.

To create a pattern from scratch

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1 Choose File New.
2 Type values in the Width and Height boxes.
If you want to create a pattern, you should set a small canvas size, such as 400 pixels by 300 pixels at 300 ppi.
3 In the Patterns panel (Window Media Panels Patterns), click the Pattern options button , and choose Define Pattern.
4 Apply brushstrokes to the canvas.
If you apply a brushstroke to the edge of the canvas, wrap-around colors are enabled so that you can drag a brushstroke off one edge of an image, while simultaneously applying the brushstroke to the other side of the image.
5 Click the Pattern options button , and choose Add Image to Library.
6 In the Save Image dialog box, type a name for the pattern.

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You can also create a pattern by choosing an existing pattern, modifying it, and then choosing Define Pattern.

To create a pattern from an image

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1 Open the image file that you want to use in creating a pattern.
2 In the Patterns panel (Window Media Panels Patterns), click the Pattern options button , and choose Define Pattern.
3 Click the Pattern options button , and choose Add Image to Library.
4 In the Save Image dialog box, type a name for the pattern.

To create a pattern from a selection

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1 Open or create an image.
2 Choose the Rectangular Selection tool in the toolbox.
3 Drag in the document window to select the area that you want to save as a pattern tile.
4 In the Patterns panel (Window Media Panels Patterns), click the Capture Pattern button .
5 In the Capture Pattern dialog box, enable one of the following options:
• Rectangular tile — places the tile in a rectangular grid for fills. This option disables the Bias slider.
• Horizontal shift — offsets the tiles in subsequent rows
• Vertical shift — offsets the tiles in subsequent columns
If applicable, move the Bias slider to adjust the amount of offset.
6 Type a name in the Name text box.
7 Click OK to save the pattern tile to the current library.

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You can also create a pattern that is based on a 4-point clone source, such as perspective or bilinear. For more information, see Multi-point cloning.

To create a masked pattern

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1 Open the image file that you want to use in creating a pattern.
2 Choose the Lasso tool in the toolbox.
3 In the document window, draw a freehand border around the area that you want to convert to a masked pattern.
4 In the Patterns panel (Window Media Panels Patterns), click the Capture Pattern button .
5 In the Capture Pattern dialog box, enable one of the following options:
• Rectangular tile — places the tile in a rectangular grid for fills. This option disables the Bias slider.
• Horizontal shift — offsets the tiles in subsequent rows
• Vertical shift — offsets the tiles in subsequent columns
If applicable, move the Bias slider to adjust the amount of offset.
6 Type a name in the Name text box.
7 Click OK to save the masked pattern to the current library.

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To quickly apply a pattern mask, click the Brush Selector. In the Brush Selector, choose the Pattern Pens category, and then choose the Pattern Pen Masked variant.

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You can apply pattern masks by using any brush variant that supports them. For more information, see Painting with patterns.

To edit a pattern

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1 In the Patterns panel (Window Media Panels Patterns), click a pattern swatch in the Painter Patterns area.
2 Click the Pattern options button , and choose Check Out Pattern.
The pattern tile appears in a separate document window.
3 On the canvas, modify the pattern tile image.
4 Click the Pattern options button , and choose Add Image to Library.
5 In the Save Image dialog box, click OK to save the pattern to the library.
If you want to rename the pattern, type a new name in the Save As text box. For example, you may want to modify a default pattern, but keep a copy of the default pattern intact.

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The Check Out Pattern mode supports wrap-around colors. When you drag a brushstroke off one edge of an image, the brushstroke is simultaneously applied to the other side of the image. This allows you to quickly modify the edges of an individual pattern tile.

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