In this tutorial, we’ll learn how to create a seamless repeat pattern in Photoshop. We’ll start by creating a simple geometric shape, which we’ll then duplicate and arrange into a repeating pattern.
We’ll use Photoshop’s Offset filter to seamlessly blend our pattern together, and then we’ll add a few final touches to give our pattern some extra personality. Let’s get started!
First, open a new Photoshop document. We’ll be working at a size of 600×600 pixels.
Create a new layer and use the Rectangle Tool (U) to draw a small rectangle in the center of the canvas. Right-click on the layer and choose Blending Options from the menu that appears. Enable the Stroke option and give the rectangle a 1px white stroke.
Next, we’re going to turn this rectangle into a diamond shape. Select the layer in the Layers palette and press CTRL+T (Windows) / CMD+T (Mac) to bring up the Transform options.
Right-click inside the bounding box and choose Skew from the menu that appears. Skew the layer by 45 degrees and press Enter/Return when you’re done.
Now we need to add some color to our diamond shape. Double-click on the layer in the Layers palette to bring up the Layer Style dialog box.
Click on the Color Overlay option and choose a light blue color from the Swatches panel. Click OK when you’re done to close out of the Layer Style dialog box.
Next, we’re going to duplicate our diamond shape layer. Press CTRL+J (Windows) / CMD+J (Mac) to duplicate the layer, or go up to the Edit menu at the top of the screen and choose Duplicate Layer from there. Move your new diamond shape over so that it’s offset slightly from the first one, as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1
Now we need to add more colors to our pattern. Duplicate your first diamond shape layer again and move it over so it’s offset from both of your other shapes, as shown in Figure 2 below.
Figure 2
Add another color to this third diamond shape using Layer Styles, then duplicate it and move it into place so it’s offset from all of your other shapes, as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3
Continue duplicating and moving your diamond shapes around until your canvas is filled with colors, as shown in Figure 4 below.
Figure 4
Now let’s turn our collection of random shapes into an actual repeating pattern! Go up to the Edit menu at the top of Photoshop and choose Offset from there. In the Offset dialog box that appears, change both Horizontal and Vertical Offset values to half of your canvas size – in my case, 300 pixels – then click OK when you’re done.
This moves all of your layers over by 300 pixels, but half of them end up going offscreen! Don’t worry – we’ll fix that in just a moment.
First, select all of your layers in the Layers palette by pressing CTRL+A (Windows) / CMD+A (Mac). Then go back up to Edit > Offset once again or press CTRL+J (Windows) / CMD+J (Mac). This time change only one of the Offset values – I’m going to change mine back to 300 pixels horizontally but leave my vertical value at 0 pixels for now – then click OK when you’re done.
Your image should now look something like Figure 5 below.
Figure 5
The next step is optional, but I’m going to add one more color just for fun! Duplicate one of your existing diamond layers, change its color using Layer Styles, then move it into place so it’s offset from all your other shapes.
Finally, let’s add some text! Create a new layer and use Photoshop’s Type Tool (T) to add some text in whatever font you like – I’m using Myriad Pro Bold for my text – along with whatever message you want. I’m adding my website address: www.tutvid.com.
To style my text, I’m first going to add an underline by clicking on the “U” icon in Photoshop’s Character Palette (Window > Character). Then I’m going increase my font size by clicking on the “>” icon until my text is large enough that it will be easily seen as part of my pattern.
With my text layer still selected in Photoshop’s Layers palette, I’m going press CTRL+T (Windows) / CMD+T (Mac) once again to bring up Transform options around my text. I’m going increase its width so that it spans across multiple diamonds horizontally, then press Enter/Return when I’m done.
And that’s how you create a seamless repeat pattern in Photoshop!
