This article describes the pattern creation and editing workflows available in Adobe Illustrator CS6 and later. For information on working with patterns in an earlier version of Illustrator, see Patterns.
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Do one of the following:
- To create a pattern, select the artwork that you would like to create the pattern from, and then choose Object > Pattern > Make.
- To edit an existing pattern, double-click the pattern in the pattern swatch, or select an object containing the pattern and choose Object > Pattern > Edit Pattern.
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Pattern Options panel
Tile Type
Choose how to lay out the tiles:
- Grid. The center of each tile is horizontally and vertically aligned to the center of the adjacent tiles.
- Brick by row. Tiles are rectangular in shape, and arranged in rows. Centers of tiles in rows are horizontally aligned. Centers of tiles in alternate columns are vertically aligned.
- Brick by column. Tiles are rectangular in shape, and arranged in columns. Centers of tiles in columns are vertically aligned. Centers of tiles in alternate columns are horizontally aligned.
- Hex by column. Tiles are hexagonal in shape, and arranged in columns. Centers of tiles in the columns are vertically aligned. Centers of tiles in alternate columns are horizontally aligned.
- Hex by row. Tiles are hexagonal in shape, and arranged in rows. Centers of tiles in the rows are horizontally aligned. Centers of tiles in alternate rows are vertically aligned.
Brick Offset
Apply to:
- Brick by Row. Determines by how much tile width the centers of tiles in adjacent rows are out of vertical alignment.
- Brick by Column. Determines by how much tile height the centers of tiles in adjacent columns are out of horizontal alignment.
Width / Height
Specify the overall height and width of the tile. Choose various values, smaller or larger than the height and width of the artwork. Values larger than the size of the artwork cause the tile to grow larger than the artwork, and insert empty space between tiles. Values smaller than the size of the artwork cause artwork in adjacent tiles to overlap.
Size Tile to Art
Select this option to cause the size of the tile to shrink to the size of the artwork being used to create the pattern.
Move Tile with Art
Select this option to ensure that moving the artwork causes the tile to move as well.