Tutorial Tuesday: Using Repeatable Patterns

Whether you're creating your own scrapbook backgrounds or designing a website, there's no limit to what you can make using repeatable patterns. But, getting started may seem a bit scary!

Don't worry- here's a couple quick tutorials to get you started. In fact, everything you need to get creative right away comes included in your download of any of our design tools.

Making a Photoshop image into a pattern:

1. Create a new file or open a working one

2. Open the file you want to create your pattern from

3. Choose Select > All

 
4. Choose Edit > Define Pattern.

 
5. Enter a name for the pattern in the Pattern Name dialog box

Filling a selection with the pattern:

6.  Create a new file or open a working one

 
7. Select the layer or part of the image you want to fill. Do one of the following:
 a) Select the Paint Bucket tool In the options bar, choose Pattern from the Fill pop-up menu, and select a pattern from the Pattern pop-up palette. Then click to fill the selected area with the pattern.

b) (Not shown) Choose Edit > Fill. In the Fill dialog box, for Use, choose Pattern, select a pattern from the pop-up palette, and click OK. (Note: If Pattern is dimmed, you need to load a pattern library before you can select this option)