How to create a continuous pattern using Photoshop

If you were ever wondering how the heck do they create those continuous patterns, then wonder no more and check this neat Photoshop tutorial that might teach you a new designing trick or two.

Create a new Photoshop document by clicking File and New...

In the dialog window choose the same settings and click OK.

First let's create a square we will use as a background for the patternt.

Choose the Rectangle Tool (U for a keyboard shortcut).

In the toolbar above, choose the color you like for the background.

Now create a square by holding Shift key and draggin the mouse.

Holding Shift key creates a perfect square. The position of the square on the document doesn't matter that much, just leave some space at all sides of the square.

Choose the Custom Shape Tool.

Hold the mouse on Rectangle Tool until new shape tools appear.

In the toolbar above choose the shape you like (see picture).

We will now enable the function which will automatically help as with aligning the shapes.

In the menu click View, Snap To and choose Guides.

Create a new layer.

In the menu choose a lighter version of your background color.

Custom Shape Tool should be chosen.

Now create the shape and position it the same way I did (see picture).

Half of the shape should be inside of the square and other half outside of the square.

Now hold Alt click the shape you just created and drag the duplicated layer bellow on the same position as I did, again hlf in half out.

Alt key duplicates the layer.

As you should notice Snap To Guides we enabled takes care for the aligning with other elements.

Now do the same thing, but with other shapes on the remaining sides of the square (see picture).

And add some random shapes inside of the square.

Hold Ctrl (cmd on MacOS) and click on the square shape thumbnail (see picture).

This way you created selection of the shape.

In the menu click Layer and choose Flatten Image, which merges all the layers into one single layer.

In the menu click Edit and choose Define Pattern...

Enter a name for your new pattern and click OK.

Now create a new document by clicking File and choosing New...

Choose the same settings as I did and click OK.

Choose the Paint Bucket Tool (G for a keyboard shortcut).

In the toolbar above choose the Pattern (see picture).

No open the pattern chooser and select your new pattern (see picture).

Now click the document so it fills it with your new pattern.

And view from a far.

Get creative!

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