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Shotster
Participating Frequently
May 17, 2011
Answered

Define Pattern Not Enabled - Why???

  • May 17, 2011
  • 5 replies
  • 52709 views

I follwed the simple instructions in the help system to the letter. I make a selection using the rectangular marquee tool, but the Define Pattern menu item under the Edit menu is not enabled. What do I have to do to define a pattern? Why is such a simple thing so diffucult?

-Steve

      Correct answer Smiling_Carcass

      I know this is an old one, but in case anybody else has the problem and is seeking an answer not so far addressed, if you have  'Feather' selected (in other words, any option above 0 px) then 'Define Selection' isn't available.

      5 replies

      N
      Nawal5CBC
      New Participant
      May 13, 2024

      I just figured out you can only define a pattern from the entirety of your canvas contents. Not from a selection. Your full canvas has to contain the repeat tile. You define pattern from your single tile, then you increase canvas size to do a pattern fill layer to see how the tile repeats

        A
        amyc61419590
        New Participant
        August 18, 2023

        Try it with Photoshop Beta.  Seems to work for me now. 

        C
        Cathyee29548462y8vh
        New Participant
        April 23, 2023
        " Smiling_Carcass • Community Beginner , Oct 19, 2019

        I know this is an old one, but in case anybody else has the problem and is seeking an answer not so far addressed, if you have  'Feather' selected (in other words, any option above 0 px) then 'Define Selection' isn't available." Yes, I reduce the feather to 0px and define pattern enable again! thanks so much!

        Smiling_Carcass
        Smiling_CarcassCorrect answer
        New Participant
        October 19, 2019

        I know this is an old one, but in case anybody else has the problem and is seeking an answer not so far addressed, if you have  'Feather' selected (in other words, any option above 0 px) then 'Define Selection' isn't available.

          M
          mavante
          New Participant
          September 23, 2021

          This should be stickied as the correct answer; it's what causes the "semi-transparent" pixels that make "Define pattern" unavailable. The current stickied "solution" doesn't give a solution; it just defines the problem. Trying anything other than turning off the feather—e.g. flattening the layer or image to maike sure there are no transparent pixels—won't solve it.

          Chris Cox
          Chris Cox
          Brainiac
          May 17, 2011

          Possibilities:  You're in a modal state, you have no selection, the selection is too large, or you've reached the maximum number of pattern presets.

          S
          ShotsterAuthor
          Participating Frequently
          May 17, 2011

          Thanks for taking the time to reply, Chris, but none of those apply. The selection is 31x31 pixels. The app is definitely not in a modal state. In fact, the Define Brush Presets item is enabled, but Define Pattern (just below it) is not. This is the first pattern preset I've tried to create, so I'm certainly not at the max. FWIW, I'm not a PS newbie. I've been using the app for nearly a decade. I just don't understand this behavior. Does the document have to be in a certain color mode or something?

          Any other ideas? This is quite frustrating. I might be an update behind, so if this is an issue that's been addressed in a recent update, let me know.

          -Steve

          Chris Cox
          Chris Cox
          Brainiac
          May 17, 2011

          The only other things that can disable the new pattern command:

          If the selection is discontiguous (not a single area).

          If you have channels targetted other than the composite channels.

          If you have a path active and visible.

          If the document is 32 bit/channel.

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