How to use patterns (photoshop beginners)

Using pattern fills in graphics and logos is big news for 2008. The emerging trend sees flat vector artwork being filled with ornate floral or retro patterns for a clean but textural look. The trend has crossed over from the use of retro and art nouveau wallpaper in interior design, and is now being picked up by the graphics industry. To get in on the trend…

Heres one way to do it

There are many ways to use photoshop patterns. In this short tutorial I’m going to show you a simple way to achieve some interesting effects.

Open a new document (File > New).

Make a new layer (Layer > New).

Using the custom shape tool on layer 1, draw any shape. Doesn’t matter what colour. Make sure you have ‘fill pixels’ selected on the top toolbar:

Now make your shape (by dragging from the top left down diagonally). I made a heart.

Use the magic wand tool to select your shape by clicking on the heart.

Now, as shown below, go to Layer > New Fill Layer. Click Pattern

Click OK. You will see this box appear – click the drop down arrow next to the pattern thumbnail to select a pattern.

Click OK.

Now you can delete layer 1, and that’s it!

In this way, you can build up a whole image made of patterns, as you can draw out any selected area and then create a pattern fill.

Alternatively, you can use the paint bucket to fill solid areas with pattern. Just set the ‘Fill’ drop down, on the menu bar of the fill tool to ‘Pattern’.