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Creating Seamless Patterns in Illustrator

This document provides instructions for creating seamless patterns in Illustrator. It explains how to [1] draw a square and create artwork within it to use as the pattern, [2] use the Reflect and Rotate tools to duplicate the artwork across the square so it tiles seamlessly, [3] create variations of the pattern, [4] make a pattern swatch from the square, and [5] apply the pattern as a fill and how to scale or rotate just the pattern or the object it is applied to. Following these steps allows one to efficiently create repeatable vector patterns in Illustrator.

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Zuber Khan
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76 views5 pages

Creating Seamless Patterns in Illustrator

This document provides instructions for creating seamless patterns in Illustrator. It explains how to [1] draw a square and create artwork within it to use as the pattern, [2] use the Reflect and Rotate tools to duplicate the artwork across the square so it tiles seamlessly, [3] create variations of the pattern, [4] make a pattern swatch from the square, and [5] apply the pattern as a fill and how to scale or rotate just the pattern or the object it is applied to. Following these steps allows one to efficiently create repeatable vector patterns in Illustrator.

Uploaded by

Zuber Khan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Creating seamless patterns in Illustrator

One of the frequest questions I get from readers is how you create seamless patterns in
Illustrator. Today I’ll explain how I create such patterns and how you can scale and rotate them
using different settings in the Scale tool options.

Draw your pattern

First we start by drawing a square. Select the Rectangle tool and draw a sqaure holding down the
shift key. With the square still selected, hit command/control + 5 to make a guide from the
square (View > Guides > Make Guides). Make sure guides are on so you see the square. Go to
View > Guides > Show Guides (or hit command/control + semicolon). This square guide is the
placeholder for our pattern swatch.

Create an illustration inside the square to be used as basis for the pattern. I've chosen for an
ornament (see image on the left) which I'll use as central element for my pattern swatch. In the
top left corner I have also a smaller ornament to make the pattern more interesting.

Reflect the corner ornament

You probably don't see this in the picture, but in the very top left corner I've used a quarter of a
circle. If I have a quarter of a circle in each corner of the square, I'll get a perfect circle once the
pattern is ready and applied.
First make sure Smart Guides are turned on. Go to View > Smart Guides and make sure you see
the check mark (use command/control + u to switch Smart Guide on or off). Select the ornament
in in the corner and select the Reflect tool from the toolbox. Hold down the alt/option key and
click precisely in the center of the square. With Smart Guides on you'll see the word 'center' if
you are in the right spot. In the Reflect options window, make sure Preview is checked. Select
Vertical as Axis and click Copy to duplicate the corner element. Double check if the corner is
precisely positioned. Zoom in and correct if needed. With Smart Guides on this should go pretty
easy. This double checking is important and needed if you want your pattern to be absolutely
prefect. If the corner is not 100% perfectly placed on the guides, the pattern will show a tiny little
gap or other imperfections in the circle. So this is absolutely crucial.

Reflect again and rotate the center ornament

Select both corner ornaments and alt/option click in the center of the square again. Select
Horizontal Axis and hit Copy to duplicate and reflect both corners vertically.
Now select the central ornament and select the Rotate tool from the toolbox. Alt/option click in
the center of the square. Enter 180 degrees in the Angle field and check preview. Hit the copy
button to rotate and duplicate the ornament. Again, double check the corners so they are
absolutely perfectly placed in each corner.

Create variations

It's hard to tell what the actual result will be once the pattern is applied. So I've created a
variation of the first one just to have a bit of choice. The 2nd one has bigger ornaments in the
corner and the central ornament is smaller.

Create a pattern swatches

Select all corners and central ornaments by dragging a selection around the square. Now drag the
selection into the Swatches palette. Now you have created a pattern swatch.
Pattern applied

Draw a big rectangle and give it the pattern fill you've just created.

Above you'll see the end result of the 2nd pattern.

Scaling a pattern

You can scale a pattern within an object, or you can scale the object without scaling the pattern.
Rotating a pattern

The same goes for rotating. You can rotate a pattern without rotating the object or you can rotate
the object without rotating the pattern. Of course you can scale or rotate both pattern and object
together as well.

That's it ;) Hope you've enjoyed this one again and learned a thing or two ;)

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