Creating Patterns

If none of the patterns provided with Photoshop suits your needs, you can create your own using one of two methods : sampling a pattern or using the Pattern Maker plug-in.

Sampling a Pattern

You can create a pattern on-the-fly and then use it to create a pattern layer. The new pattern immediately becomes part of the library of available patterns.

1. Open or create the image file that holds the area to use as the pattern. The image appears in its own window.

2. Click on Edit . The Edit menu will appear.

3. Click on Define Pattern . The Pattern Name dialog box will open. This will create a pattern from the entire image. If you want to create a pattern from only part of an image, select that part prior to step 2 using any of the selection tools.

   

   Note

   If the Define Pattern command is disabled, it's probably because the image bit depth is set to 16 Bits/Channel, the typical setting for many scanners . To enable the Define Pattern command, you have to convert the image to 8 Bits/Channel by choosing Image, Mode, 8 Bits/Channel.

4. Type a name for the pattern in the Name text box. Photoshop will use the name you specify to identify the pattern.

5. Click on OK . The Pattern Name dialog box will close.

   

Using the Pattern Maker Plug-In

The Pattern Maker plug-in enables you to preview a pattern and alter it slightly before you save it as a preset. Follow these steps to create a basic pattern with the Pattern Maker plug-in:

1. Open or create the image file that holds the area to use as the pattern. The image appears in its own window.

2. Select the area to use as a pattern using the selection tool of your choice. The selection marquee will appear.

   

3. Click on Filter . The Filter menu will appear.

4. Click on Pattern Maker . The Pattern Maker window will open.

   

5. Change settings such as the tile's Width, Height, Smoothness, and Sample Detail as necessary. The Pattern Maker will apply those settings when you generate the pattern tile preview.

6. Click on Generate . The Pattern Maker window will preview the pattern, both as a single tile in the Tile History area and as an applied pattern in the main portion of the dialog box.

   

7. Click on the Save Preset Pattern button. The Pattern Name dialog box will open.

8. Type a name for the pattern in the Name text box. Photoshop will use the name you specify to identify the pattern.

9. Click on OK . The Pattern Name dialog box will close.

   

10. Click on OK . The Pattern Maker window will close, and the pattern will be applied to your current layer.