Photoshop

Generate a pattern using the Pattern Maker

The Pattern Maker filter slices and reassembles an image to make a pattern. The Pattern Maker works in two ways:

  • Fills a layer or selection with a pattern. The pattern can be made of one large tile, or multiple duplicate tiles.

  • Creates tiles that you can save as a pattern preset and use with other images.

    You can generate multiple patterns from the same sample until you find one that you like.

  1. Do one of the following:

    • Select the layer that contains the area from which you want to generate the pattern. The layer you select will be replaced by the generated pattern, so it’s a good idea to make a copy of the layer first.

    • To generate a pattern in a new layer or file, make a rectangular selection of the image you are using to generate the pattern, and choose Edit > Copy. Then add a layer to the image, or create a new file with the dimensions you want the final image to have.

  2. Choose Filter > Pattern Maker.
  3. Specify the source of the pattern.

    • Choose Use Clipboard As Sample to use the contents of the clipboard if you copied an image before you opened the Pattern Maker.

    • Make a selection in the preview area with the Pattern Maker’s Marquee tool . To move the selection marquee, drag it to a different location.

    Note: You can use the Zoom and Hand tools to navigate in the preview area. Use Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) with the Zoom tool to zoom out. The magnification appears at the bottom of the dialog box.
  4. Specify the tile size.

    • Enter pixel dimensions in the Width and Height boxes.

    • Click Use Image Size to generate a pattern with one tile that fills the layer.

  5. Click Generate. You can press Esc to cancel the generation.

    The preview area is tiled with the generated pattern.

    • To switch between the generated preview and the source image, choose an option from the Show menu.

    • To view the boundary of individual tiles, click Tile Boundaries.

    • To offset the tiles in the generated pattern, choose a direction from the Offset pop‑up menu and specify an offset amount in the Amount text box. The offset amount is a percentage of the tile dimension in the specified direction. The offset has no effect on saved pattern preset tiles.

  6. Click Generate Again to generate additional patterns using the same options, or adjust the options and then click Generate Again.
    Smoothness
    Adjusts the sharp edges in the pattern. Increase the smoothness to reduce edges.

    Sample Detail
    Specifies the size of pattern slices in the tile. A high value maintains more of the original detail in the pattern. A low value uses smaller slices in the tile. Tiles take longer to generate when you use a high value.

  7. Navigate through the generated tiles in the Tile History panel to select the tile that you want to use to fill the layer or to save as a pattern preset.

    • To move through the tiles you’ve generated, click the First Tile button, Previous Tile button, Next Tile button, or Last Tile button. Or, type the number of the pattern preview you want to view, and press Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac OS).

    • To view how the tile looks as a repeating pattern in the preview area, make sure that Update Pattern Preview is selected. If tile previewing is slow, deselect this option, find the tile you want, and then select the option.

    • To delete a tile and pattern preview, navigate to the tile you want to delete, and click the Delete icon.

    • To save a tile as a preset pattern, navigate to the tile you want to save, and click the Preset Pattern button. Enter a preset name, and click OK. When you save a tile as a preset pattern, only a single tile is saved, not the full, generated pattern.

    Tile History buttons

    A.
    Preset Pattern

    B.
    First Tile

    C.
    Previous Tile

    D.
    Next Tile

    E.
    Last Tile

    F.
    Delete icon

  8. When you are satisfied with a pattern preview and you have saved the tiles that you might want to use in the future, click OK to fill the layer or selection.

    If you are creating preset patterns only, click Cancel to close the dialog box without filling the layer.