Seamless Patterns

Seamless Patterns are used quite often in PSP and you should know that you can make your own at anytime. We use them as backgrounds, flood fills, and tube backs so you will probably end up with many different kinds of patterns.

First we open a new file, 200 x 200, white background. Choose a couple of your favorite colors and using the airbrush tool

and using the settings as below

Now is the time we are going to use some of our beloved filters. I used Effects/Distortion Effects/Ripple and don't be afraid of changing the setting to get other effects. Also you can add more than one filter if you like just make sure that the background on each effect is white if asked.

We need to make sure that we have only one layer at this point. Looking at your layer palette look to see that there is only one layer showing, if more than one then go to Layers/Merge/Merge All. Now to apply a texture give your image a more 3 dimensional look. Go to your materials palette and choose a complimentary color I chose a lighter shade of the same blue. At the top right of the color choice box is a Texture box, there is a radio button next the name Texture, make sure that button is checked. Click on the drop down arrow next to the texture box and choose a texture to your liking and close the box. Add a new Raster Layer to your image and using the Flood Fill Tool fill your new layer with the texture. I used this texture for mine.

You may have to adjust the scale or angle to get the effect you want. then flood fill your new layer with this texture. It should look something like this.

Again make sure we are working with only one layer merge these two. Go to Layers/Merge/Merge All. Now to make this seamless. Go to Effects/Image Effects/Seamless Tiling and click OK in the next box. My image now looks like this.

looks the same? But it won't once it is used as a pattern. How do you add this to your patterns? We are going to save this as a jpg. You Click on File/Export/JPEG Optimizer in the next just leave as is and click OK here is where you save it, find your Patterns Folder for your Program. Mine is in My Documents / PSP Files / Patterns. Once you have found your Patterns folder just click Save.

The next time you open your patterns you will see that your pattern is in the list. Open a new file just like we did last time. With the Flood Fill Tool, go to your Color palette and open your Materials Properties Box, look in the Patterns files and find your new pattern and choose it. Try changing the Angle and Scale of your pattern. You will see just how seamless it now is. Here is mine.

You can add this to your swatches if you like by hitting the button on the bottom right corner that says "Add To Swatches" Now when you want to use this pattern again you can just click on the swatches tab at the top of your color box. Like this: