Teacher Resource 6–Pattern creation

Introduction and aims

Methods for creating Digital Textiles including elements of CAD (Photo-shop) and CAM (textile pattern printing)

The aims of this activity are:

  1. To create a digital pattern from a photograph or drawing.
  2. To create an allover pattern,
  3. To design imagery to suit a specific place on the body or for an interior space.
  4. To create a repeat pattern.
  5. To experiment with pattern to further develop ideas
  6. To use technologies to enhance your project.

Activity set up

Try out the software you are going to use before delivering this activity.

Each learner will need to use a digital image or scan their work. Each learner will need at least 2 images to work with.

Ideally it is best to use Photoshop, however you could also use Illustrator, Publisher or Power Point.

If using Publisher or PowerPoint, the images will be copied and pasted into the page. Cropping the image and pasting to arrange a pattern is a simple way to build up a design.

To use Illustrator to create a pattern, select the artwork that you would like to create the pattern from, and then click object, pattern and then make.

The Activity

Patterns for digital printing can be created on Adobe or Microsoft office software. Images that are taken by the learners can be used and there are many apps that can be used to create patterns digitally.

If the pattern is large scale and to be used as more than a sample then make sure the image is large enough. To avoid a pixilated image start with a photograph or drawing of 300 or more dpi.

  1. Begin to create patterns by asking learners to use their own photography or scanning in project work. The best patterns include two or more elements to create interest and movement.
  2. Prepare the scanned images or photographsand ask the learners to select and copy sections of elements of their work onto the tile, rather than just using a square image

Version 11© OCR 2017

Textile Design: Individual differences

  1. Choose a colour for the background layer and on a new layer add your scanned or photographed images.
  2. Using Photoshop you can create a tile. Set up the tile to be a small section that will be repeated to create a pattern. The learners can decide on the scale of the section to be recreated into a pattern. When using this tile you must make sure that the end sized paper or fabric you are printing on is bigger than the tile to create the repeat correctly.
  3. To blend or add effects to the images use the layer blending options with the drop down box for different options. Using this menu in the layer window you can choose effects that may suit your pattern or use the multiply option to see all the images together.
  4. When the design has been decided go to the top menu and select - edit, define pattern, - a menu will pop up to ask you to name the pattern, then click ok.
  5. When the tile has been saved, create a new page/file that is larger than the tile. For example A3.
  6. Select from the top menu - edit, fill, select pattern - from the drop down menu select - custom pattern pictured and select your title.
  7. The pattern will then fill the page.
  8. This pattern can be adjusted by going back to your tile and making changes.
  9. Repeat the edit, define pattern, edit fill, select custom pattern steps to view the changes in full.

Extension

Using the offset filter when creating a tile for a pattern. When designing your pattern onto the tile, you can use a filter to split the images and wrap it around the tile. Re-joining the pattern in this way can create more sophisticated effects. Once the image is split by the offset filter it cannot be moved again. Copying layers so that this can be done many times or for the learners to have a back up image incase they need to go back is important.

  1. Select the layer you are going to use, go to the top menu and select, filter, other , offset.
  2. A pop up menu will show you sliders so that you can move the image around the tile. Make sure the preview box is ticked so that you can see the changed made.
  3. Bottom menu shows Undefined Areas - select wrap around so that the images goes around the tile and joins back together. You can use this filter on many layers/images in this way to give you more interesting patterns.
  4. Once happy with the tile follow the previous steps to complete the pattern, define pattern, fill with pattern on a new page.

Visualizations - Copy and paste your pattern into a fashion illustration or room set to see what the design would look like in use.

Print off paper copies of your pattern to add to your book or use in samples.

Send pattern to a mimaki /digital fabric printers for a fabric sample/final length

Version 11© OCR 2017

Textile Design: Individual differences