Which software to use for textile/ prints?

[nutmeg]

Is there a software to create textile prints for apparel such as tartans, checks, stripes, floral patterns etc? Has to be compatible with mac.
I can achieve the basic stripes using illustrator but checks and tartans seems to be quite complicated to do.
Is there an easy way to create the checks/ tartons simply using illustrator or photoshop? or would I need to get a specialised software?

Thanks for any suggestions!

[jamesmc]

Tartans can be tricky as there is an exact specification for making them if you are referring to clan tartans. One would have to get a book on tartans to follow the exact specification and be registered in that particular country to make available an authorized design. There are also formal tartans and utilitarian tartans that are used for hunting, etc.

However in general, tartans can be made with just about any paint program that has some degree of sophistication.

Corel has an embroidery program. It's a bit on the steep side, 1200 US and I'm unsure if it would meet your needs for tartans. Don't know if it has a MAC equivalent.

My suggestion would be to contact the Scot or Irish board of tourism (if those are they type of tartan's you are interested in) and see if they know of any MAC programs designed to make tartans.

There is a plug-in for Adobe Illustrator that may work for you called Symmetry Works.

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

for Mac, Mac OS X, and Windows

Evidently, it is a companinon for Symmetry Shop with works with Adobe Photoshop and they recommend having both.

There appear to be many types of software to do this. It depends if you want to make screen presentations, print outs or an interaction with a weaving loom.

[nutmeg]

well, I just need to do some check patterns based on an fabric swatch I have for a client.
Basically I need to represent the check on my artwork. As long it looks like a piece of check based on the swatch then it would be acceptable. I just can't seem to get that 'fabric' effect with illustrator. It's not worth me spending money on a software to do this as I hardly need it for my usual work.

[jamesmc]

Sounds to me like you just need a scanner, or a digital camera.

[molucca]

Something I saw for Painter.

You might show a sample of what you want.

Rich

[nutmeg]

Sounds to me like you just need a scanner, or a digital camera.

Sorry for not explaining myself properly. I need to make some slight modification to the existing swatch such as removing and changing the colours. I have thought of scanning the swatch and using photoshop to select the colours that need changing. The check pattern has lines that overlap and crosses over each other and the tones variate where it overlaps. I just wondered whether there would be an quicker way and thought it might be easier just to draw the check myself. However, I just couldn't achieve the 'check' effect using Illustrator.

[remi]

There are some textile design PlugIns for Adobe Photoshop CS 2 (costs for the Plugins: € 1800,-).

[origininc]

Dear N
You can use TRIADEM StylePlugs (excellent pluggin) their websight is http://www.triadem.com/US/StylePlugUS.html

Artlandia also has a new photoshop pluggin. Their websight is http://www.artlandia.com/products/SymmetryWorks/

/// Edited out the "ad" part of the message - Risto ///

Thanks,
Frederick

[sallybode]

You can create your own tile pattern, at least Illustrator used to let you do this. The how to is in their Adobe Illustrator in a Classroom books or Googled by subject on the web. I think it is better to know how to do it myself. You then save money for other things.

But if you use Photoshop, you can make a tilable pattern. The advantage is if you want to import it as fill into an Illustrator graphic, you can also distort and warp it as required for your illustration in Photoshop so it follows the flow of the garment and the curvature of the body underneath with shadows, lighting and all.