The best way to create a damask pattern?

[PhilM]

Remember that the horizontal and vertical flip buttons use the "transform origin" that's shown with the rotate handles to set the "mirror line".

So:
* Draw a background square
* Draw a squiggly shape on one side
* In the Selector tool, make sure the squiggle is selected and then click it again to show the rotate handles and the transform origin (the "target" handle in the middle)
* Make sure magnetic snapping is turned on and drag the transform origin until it snaps to the middle of the background square
* Clone the squiggle and click flip horizontally (and/or flip vertically)

The cloned squiggle will then be /exactly/ opposite the original w.r.t. the background.

Phil

[iamtheblues]

If you want a program to do the job, then Mediachance Pattern Studio should fit the bill. 68 USD for the program, but you can try it for free. Attached is a seamless .png I made using it for 10 minutes.
Saludos,
Bob.

[Soquili]

PhilM described the method I use.

View the attached video to see how easy it is to do.

[Big Frank]

That's a good video Bill, easily explained and more technical than I would do it... therefore more accurate!

[Big Frank]

Interesting thread. I downloaded some nice flower pattern from here : http://vector4free.com/vectors/id/289

Once downloaded and opened in XDP6, I used the vectors to create a nice flower arrangement and it took just a few minutes to create this asymmetric tile using:



I've done this before and once you have the technique it's silly how easy it is (no, honestly, it is) thx

(sorry for the size of the xar file)

[Big Frank]

That looks like a nice app Saludosbob, but when I set the image
as my desktop background it has a white line running from top
to bottom

[James Allen]

PhilM described the method I use.
View the attached video to see how easy it is to do.

That's excellent Bill.

The only trouble I've had in the past was that when I placed the line through the image it didn't look like it was in the very centre, probably because the shape was not perfectly symmetrical itself to begin with. In this screenshot of your own example, you'll notice the line isn't perfectly through the centre. I'd use your technique if I can remember how to snap the guideline to the centre of the main object, and as long as the line does end up in the very centre.

[James Allen]

If you want a program to do the job, then Mediachance Pattern Studio should fit the bill. 68 USD for the program, but you can try it for free. Attached is a seamless .png I made using it for 10 minutes.
Saludos,
Bob.

Wow, I can't believe that trace of mine ended up on a table cloth so quickly. It looks great Bob.

[Soquili]

James you assume that the font I used is symmetrical.

The shapes in my video are from a free font called fleurons.

[James Allen]

Thanks Bill – another free font to add to my collection.

With shapes that aren’t perfectly symmetrical I usually just clone the shape and ctrl mouse the shape across, then use the old ctrl/arrow pixel nudge to get it into place, as per this 18 second VIDEO.