How to make a seamless repeat pattern swatch in Adobe Photoshop:
- Assemble your motifs into a pattern and add a fill background.
- Merge your motifs into one layer by going to the Layers panel menu drop down and clicking ‘Merge Layers’.
- Now go to Filter > Other > Offset…
- You will want to set the measurements as half the size of your document. In this case our document was 500 pixels so we’ve set the horizontal and vertical to 250 pixels. Click OK.
- Now go to Edit > Define Pattern.
- Name your pattern and click OK.
- To test your pattern open a new document that is larger than your original pattern file. In this case we have used 1500 pixels.
- Go to Edit > Fill. Choose Pattern in the drop down and go to Custom Pattern and choose your pattern swatch.
- This will now fill your document with your new repeat pattern!
TIPS:
- The motif you use can be made in Photoshop/Illustrator or jpgs/pngs (as long as they have a transparent background).
- Your motifs need to be contained to the document (don’t overlap the edges) but can go up to the edges.
- At the offset stage is where you can make your pattern even more seamless by filling in gaps. If you aren’t happy with the repeat, simply go back in your history or CMD Z.
- Name your pattern so that you can stay organised.
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