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ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR CS2
User Guide
Guidelines for constructing pattern tiles
Follow these general guidelines for constructing pattern tiles:
• To make the pattern less complex so that it prints more rapidly, remove any unnecessary detail from the pattern
artwork, and group objects that are painted with the same color so that they are adjacent in the stacking order.
• As youcreateyourpattern tile,zoominonthe artworktoalignelementsmoreaccurately,and then zoom outfrom
the artwork for the final selection.
• The more complex the pattern, the smaller should be the selection used to create it; however, the smaller the
selection (and the pattern tile it creates), the more copies are needed to create the pattern. Thus, a 1-inch-square
tile is more efficient than a 1/4-inch-square tile. If you are creating a simple pattern, you can include multiple
copies of the object within the selection intended for the pattern tile.
• To create simple line patterns, layer stroked lines of varying widths and colors, and place an unfilled, unstroked
bounding box behind the lines to create a pattern tile.
• To make an organic or textural pattern appear irregular, vary the tile artwork subtly for a more realistic effect. You
can use the Roughen effect to control variations.
• To ensure smooth tiling, close paths before defining the pattern.
• Enlarge your artwork view and check for flaws before defining a pattern.
• If you draw a bounding box around the artwork, make sure that the box is a rectangle, that it is the backmost object
of the tile, and that it is unfilled and unstroked. To have Illustrator use this bounding box for a brush pattern, make
sure that nothing protrudes from it.
Follow these additional guidelines when creating brush patterns:
• When possible, confine artwork to an unpainted bounding box so that you can control how the pattern tiles.
• Corner tilesmustbesquareand have thesameheightasside tilestoalignproperlyonthe path.Ifyou plan to use
corner tiles with your brush pattern, align objects in the corner tiles horizontally with objects in the side tiles so
that the patterns tile correctly.
• Create special corner effects for brush patterns using corner tiles.
See also
“To apply a color, pattern, or gradient to an object” on page 224
To create pattern swatches
1 Create artwork for the pattern following the guidelines in “About patterns” on page 255.
2 Optionally, to control the spacing between pattern elements or to clip out portions of the pattern, draw a pattern
bounding box (an unfilled rectangle) around the artwork you want to use as a pattern. Choose Object > Arrange >
Send To Back to make the rectangle the backmost object. To use the rectangle as a bounding box for a brush or fill
pattern, fill and stroke it with None.
3 Use the Selection tool to select the artwork and bounding box (if any) that will make up the pattern tile.
4 Do one of the following:
• Choose Edit > Define Pattern, enter a name in the New Swatch dialog box, and click OK. The pattern displays in
the Swatches palette.
• Drag the artwork to the Swatches palette.
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