9-box grid of transforms - a real-time pattern tester. Possible?

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
December 17, 2020
4 replies
1073 views

I am absolutely horrible with patterns. No matter how much time I spend, how much precision measuring I do, or what guides I set up, I always struggle to make patterns that I can turn into swatches. I recently spent 3hrs, and it still looked like trash, not aligning right.

I ran across a guys tutorial on how to create mandalas a while back, and my frustration got me remembering that video. I thought "Of Coarse!!! It's so easy!". I used the principle of creating coppies using the transform effect, and moving them around. For a traditional rectangular or square pattern though, Id need a grid of 9 squares, with the center being the original. However, when I try this, either the middle-horizontal row, or the middle veritcal row end up being duplicates. The center original always ends up a duplicate.

Does anyone know how to make a grid of "copies" where the original is the center, without it being duplicate?

Monika? You amazing awesome person! Any ideas or suggestions?

This topic has been closed for replies.

varxtisAuthor

Inspiring

So, first off, thank for your help and interest. Sorry to be so late on the reply. Unfortunately the Make Pattern approach wasn't going to work for what I needed. I figured out how to do exactly what I need, but wanted to test it enough before reply. Thank you again.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

Could you please show what you did to solve this issue?

It would help others and some people have invested their time to try and help you.

varxtisAuthor

Inspiring

Ya, definitely. I apologize, I meant no disrespect or to imply I didn't appreciate everyones time. It's just that I felt kind of guilty and embarrassed. Pixxels aproach was the "right way" of going bout it. The way I ended up going is really conveluded and unintuitive. I'll explain, but heres a video incase you want to see it and not read it.

https://youtu.be/IxhO8-imjx8
I can't explain it, but something about the Make Pattern mode didn't sit right.
So:

- I created an artboard 500px x 500px.

- Create grid 1500x1500 2 dividers for both axis

- Centered to artboard and locked

- Create new layer

- Created verital line and centered with artboard, and one for horizontal, centering to artboard (these are for visual aid only)

- Select Layer 2 (the whole layer - not just shapes) and then go to Effect > Distort and Transform > Transform

- Type 1 for copies, and type 500px for Horizontal, and apply. Do another transform effect -500px this time, and apply. Do another transform effect 500px vertical this time, and apply. And finally Do another transform effect 500px vertical this time, and apply.

- Next create a shape the same dimensions as your artboard.

- Select the whole layer again and choose Make/Release Clipping Mask at the bottom of the Layer panel.

And thats the overly complicated approach I came up with.

Like I said, I can't explain it... but even though this has more steps, it just works easier for me and I can save it as a project and template. Thank you all for your time and help. As always, it is deeply appreciated.