Graphics Zone - Making Patterns

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Making Patterns and Effects with Patterns in Photoshop

by BarryHilton, Adult NetSurprise

In this tutorial we'll be looking at patterns, how to make them and applying them as an effect. This is especially useful for fonts as they remain 'editable' even when filled with a pattern. We'll start with our basic text below.

Start by opening a new image, filling the background layer with a dark color. Then type some bold text in your image... we will be applying the 'Pattern Effect' to this text layer.

Next you need to make your Pattern... Open a new image with a size of 1 pixel wide and 2 pixels high. Then using the 'Pencil Tool' from the main tool bar, paint two different colors, one in each pixel (as if you were making a stripe background for a website). In our example we are using yellow and orange for our colors. The table below is filled with our example 'Pattern'...

Now we need to define our 'Pattern' so we can use it as an Effect. Go to the 'Edit' Menu at the top of the screen and select 'Define Pattern'... Give your pattern a suitable name like 'yellow - orange stripe' and click OK.

Now you're ready to apply your first Pattern as an Effect to our text... Go back to your original image with the text and click on the text layer in the layers menu (Window > Show Layers) to select it. Then right click on its Layer name and choose 'Blending Options' from the pop-up menu. This will bring up the screen below (after clicking on the 'Pattern Overlay', near the bottom)

Click the little down arrow next to the Pattern in the small preview box and select the Pattern you just defined (Photoshop has a number of Patterns already created). When you're done click OK on the main Patern Menu, above. This will apply the Pattern to your text, like in our example below:

With your effect applied, you can now alter and edit the text without problems and the effects will still remain in place. Now try some new Pattern Effects, you can grab anything as a Pattern... so experiment and have fun :)

There are a whole bunch of free Patterns to download at the Adult NetSurprise Graphix & Web Design Zone... Click Here!