Pattern 81

Sunday, May 3, 2015
This next series of patterns I am going to call my paper snowflake patterns as they will be created in a similar fashion to how we created snowflakes from cutting paper when we were kids.  I will explain the process in detail for this first pattern, and then you can refer back to these instructions for future patterns that I will create in this same way.  These are very fun to create, and always a surprise when you see how they pattern out.  Here is the first one of this series.

Step 1 - Create a new two inch by two inch file.

Step 2 - First I will create a 'template' for my drawing.  Turn your grid on.  View -> Grid.  Set your grid options as follows:  Edit -> Preferences -> Guides & Grid, Gridline every 1 inch and Subdivisions 2. 

Step 3 - Using the Polygonal Lasso Tool, draw out a triangle as shown in image one below, and fill it with a color.  This triangle will not be part of the pattern, I just create it as a guide and will turn it off later.

Step 4 - Create a new layer, Layer -> New -> Layer.  I renamed the layer, 'Drawing'.  Freehand draw a design within the boundaries of the triangle layer below.  You can do this with the Brush Tool.  If you prefer, you can draw one on paper, scan it in, and copy and paste it into this file.    See my image two below.

Step 5 - Duplicate this layer, Layer -> Duplicate Layer.  This new layer will be called 'Drawing Copy' by default.  Select this new layer on the Layers Palette, and flip the drawing over.  Image -> Rotate -> Flip Layer Horizontal. 

Step 6 - Use the Move Tool to drag the copied and flipped drawing to the upper right quadrant of the overall square.  Make sure your lines touch in the center.  If you keep your grid turned on it will snap into place easily.  See image three below.

Step 7 - Merge the two 'Drawing' layers.  Select both the Drawing layer and the Drawing Copy layer on the Layers Palette, Layer -> Merge Layers.   The combined layer should be called Drawing Copy.

Step 8 - Duplicate the 'Drawing Copy' layer, Layer -> Duplicate Layer.  This layer will be called 'Drawing Copy 2'.  Select this newest layer on the Layers Palette and rotate it.  Image -> Rotate -> Layer 90 degrees Right.  Use the Move Tool and drag the drawing into place along the right hand side of the overall square.  Make sure the center snaps to the center grid line.  See my image four below.

Step 9 - Combine these two 'Drawing' layers.  Select both the Drawing Copy layer and the Drawing Copy 2 layer on the Layers Palette, Layer -> Merge Layers.   The combined layer should be called Drawing Copy 2. 

Step 10 - Duplicate this layer, Layer -> Duplicate Layer.  This new layer will be called 'Drawing Copy 3'.  Select this layer and rotate it.  Image -> Rotate -> Layer 180 degrees.

Step 11 - Using the Move Tool, drag this layer into place.  It should now look like my image five below.  Select 'Drawing Copy 2' and 'Drawing Copy 3' layers and merge them, Layer -> Merge Layers.

Step 12 - Turn off visibility of the triangle layer and turn off the grid.  See image six below.

Step 13 - Now you can color in your pattern using the Paint Bucket Tool with colors of your choice.  That finishes the pattern.  Select -> All, and Edit -> Define Pattern from Selection.  See my seventh image below.

Step 14 - The eighth image below shows the pattern filled into an eight inch square.