How to Create Seamless Vector Patterns in Illustrator
Vector graphics are endlessly useful, providing the ability to scale images up and down without any loss of quality. Creating seamless patterns in such a method extends such possibilities even further. Perhaps you intend to use your homemade patterns only in Illustrator, to fill shapes and use as brushes, or you have plans to see your seamless patterns as wallpapers or fabrics. In any case, learning this skill will open many doors to future artistic creations.
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Instructions
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Open Illustrator and create a new square document, approximately 400 pixels by 400 pixels.
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Create several shapes to include in your pattern. Use the "Paintbrush" tool to draw your own or use the "Rectangle," "Ellipse" or other shape tools to create preset geometric shapes.
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Select the "Rectangle" tool from the "Tools" panel. Click on your art board to bring up the "Rectangle" options. Enter the dimensions of your document as your square size. Click "OK." Position the square over your art board by clicking and dragging. Double-click the "Fill" box in the "Tools" panel to select a fill color for your square. Click "OK" to apply. Right-click the square and select "Arrange," "Send to back." Lock the square while it is still selected by choosing "Object," "Lock," "Selection."
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Arrange the shapes on top of your square in a balanced fashion. Do not overlap any of the square's edges.
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Select "View," "Snap to Point." Click "View" once more and choose "Show Rulers." Click and drag rulers onto your workspace to create guides. Drag two guides from your top ruler and drop them at the top and bottom lines of your square. Drag two guides from your left ruler and drop them at the left and right borders of your square.
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Add a shape that overlaps a single border of the square, whether by copying and pasting one of your current shapes or drawing a new one. Select both the shape and the guide line it crosses by holding "Shift" while clicking them both. Choose "Edit," "Copy." Click "Edit," "Paste" to create a duplicate of both items.
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Select both copies of the shape by holding "Shift" and clicking. Use the guide to align the duplicate shape along the opposite border of the square from its original. Hold "Shift" while moving sideways or up and down to keep all movements parallel to the original.
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Repeat steps 6 and 7, maintaining a balance of objects throughout the pattern. If your shape overlaps a corner, copy both guides it overlaps as well as the object itself when creating duplicates; for corner objects, the duplicating and aligning process must be repeated three times to account for each corner of the pattern into which it overflows.
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Select the square in the "Layers" panel. Click the padlock symbol to the left to unlock it. Remove the outline if there; click the "Stroke" box in the "Tools" panel. Choose "None" -- illustrated by a red diagonal line -- below it.
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Choose "Edit," "Copy" with the box still selected. Select "Edit," "Paste in Back." Click the "Fill" box in the "Tools" panel and choose "None." Choose "Object," "Lock," "Selection."
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Select "View," "Guides," "Hide Guides." Select the objects and the background square by choosing "Select," "All" or holding "Shift" and clicking each item. Choose "Object," "Group."
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Choose "Edit," "Paste to Front" to copy the square -- still on the clipboard -- to the front of the pattern. Select all objects by choosing "Select," "All." Click "Crop" in the "Pathfinder" panel.
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Drag and drop your completed pattern swatch to the "Swatches" panel.
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References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
