How to Make Smooth Pattern Swatches 1

[bsquared18]

In Illustrator 9, I've tried making custom pattern swatches that create smooth, continuous lines when clicked on to fill an object. But even the most simple patterns have breaks in the lines.

For example, I used the pen tool with a line weight of 1 point to create a simple X. I used Illustrator's grid to make sure the lines were in a perfectly square space. But when I place this pattern in the swatch library and then click on it to fill an object, there are small gaps between the end of each X and the adjoining ones.

The more complex the swatch pattern, the harder it is to get a smooth flowing, continuous pattern when the swatch is used to fill an object.

Is there a trick or paradigm for developing a custom pattern swatch so that when you click on it, the pattern flows smoothly throughout the object without breaks in the pattern?

Thanks,

Bill B.

 

[askIllustrator]

pattern fills work on a grid basis. By default they will butt the patterns touching each other. It is very strict about this too so it will not compensate for gaps in the corners. If you zoom in very close on the corners of your 'X' you will notice the caps of your stroke forming a 45 degree angle at the very tip. If you fill a shape with that patter you would get a small white diamond where all the lines meet. This is because the corners were not filled in. When I make pattern fills I create a perfect square the size of my pattern and convert it to a guide. I then proceed to create the pattern keeping all the art TOUCHING the guides. drag the piece into your swatches and fill a shape with it. Its all in how the corners are filled. BEHOLD! As Steve Jobs introduces us the latest in desk-lamp technology!

http://www.apple.com

 

[bsquared18]

jAQUAN,

Thanks for the help, especially your suggestion about using a guide, which I'd never tried before.

But I'm still having problems. I'm trying to create a swatch that repeats a pattern of a 45-degree angle, wide line. After reading your comments I tried several versions, using the pen tool to hand draw various wide, 45 degree angle "lines" that butted up against the edges of the guide in various ways. None of my attempts resulted in a smooth- flowing pattern. Depending on how I tried to position the "line," the repeating patterns either had gaps between them or were offset from each other.

One solution I did come up with, although it isn't my first choice, is to create a swatch large enough so that it is bigger than the area I'm going to use the swatch for. For example, if I want to create a diagonal necktie pattern, I create a really large swatch. Then, when I draw the necktie, it is smaller than the area of the swatch, so there are no repeating patterns.

As I say, that technique works, kind of. But I'd prefer using your method. However, how to get the lines to connect without breaks still eludes me.

Bill

 

[askIllustrator]

what I had to end up doing is outlining my path once I had it looking right. Before I did that though I made 2 copies of the lines. Each intersecting with one of the 2 untouched corners of the square. After outlines and Uniting the paths, I unlocked and released the guide I made, selected all the shapes and did a Divide. I then ungrouped and deleted anything outside the square includeding the white shapes it made when I divided. This left two little wedges at the vacant corners and the stripe clipped to a right angle at both ends. I then made my swatch out of this. It left little gaps every so often in the fill but otherwise worked fine. I both printed a sample on a laser printer and checked it in the save for web preview and it was solid as a rock. I went ahead and uploaded the file for ya. Take a look.

right click and save target as.​

-->>http://www.rhythmstudios.com/images/patternTest.zip<<-- BEHOLD! As Steve Jobs introduces us the latest in desk-lamp technology!

http://www.apple.com

 

[bsquared18]

jAQUAN,

Of course! Now that I see your completed swatch pattern, it all makes sense. It never dawned on me to put the missing parts in the other corners! A cool solution. Shows what happens when someone (in this case me) doesn't think outside of the box--or in this case inside the box but in opposite corners.

Thanks for the help!

Bill

 

[askIllustrator]

Glad I could help. Remember, you can always check yourself by repeating your shape manually a few times before you make it a swatch BEHOLD! As Steve Jobs introduces us the latest in desk-lamp technology!

http://www.apple.com

 

[askIllustrator]

Hehe, check out this tool thats supposed to do it for ya

http://www.artlandia.com/products/SymmetryWorks/

BEHOLD! As Steve Jobs introduces us the latest in desk-lamp technology!

http://www.apple.com