Can I fill an irregular shape with a graphic?

[morganm46339060]

I am creating applied vinyl graphics for large irregular vases and want to be able to fill the repeating segments with complicated graphics that will be continuous from one segment to another. If I use Envelope Distort to try to fill the irregular shape with the graphic, it skews the whole thing. Really, I just want to distort the graphic horizontally. I've tried using the 3D settings to map the graphic onto a plane, but it just leaves it as a rectangle. Photoshop has no options for filling shapes that I can find either. Does anyone have any ideas on how to do this? 

On the attached image, the first object is the graphic, the second is the shape (12 of these make the whole vase), and the third shows how messed up the Envelope Distort is. Using a Mesh is OK, but lacks the perfection I need for this to look seamless across the whole vase. 

[Jacob Bugge]

Morgan,

To start with the first object, as far as I can see, it is actually not repeatable. Can you put two together to show?

PLease use the Insert Photos button at the top of the Reply box (looks like moon over mountains) instead of attaching it,  so we can see the images in your post instead of having yo open it in another Tab.

[morganm46339060]

That's because the main graphic actually is two panels wide. Here are 4 panels shown so you can see the repeat.

[morganm46339060]

Here's the linked image from the original question.

[Jacob Bugge]

Thank you for the clarification, Morgan.

As far as I can see, in any case you will need to prestretch and then shrink the vinyl to make it fit the very regular but curved shape, so you may as well create the graphic in 2D and then let the vinyl stretch and shrink itself with the graphic to fit.

This search shows something about it,

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ftsa&q=vinyl+graphics+stretching&atb=v320-1&ia=web

But I believe you will need expert advice. @Bobby Henderson ?

[Bobby Henderson]

I think it would be very difficult creating vinyl graphics that can accurately wrap around a vase all in one printed piece. If even the print could be made in a manner where the 3D object was deconstructed into a flat plane the actual installation would be tough.

Wrapping anything that has compound curves, be it old school curvy vehicle fenders, a motorcycle helmet, etc is going to be a challenge. The vinyl has to be heated and stretched using a heat gun, but the very act of doing so creates inaccuracies. Very often such objects are wrapped in layers of vinyl. There may be a background layer. But then there will be separate pieces of print and cut graphics applied over it. With a vehicle wrap some things can be "cheated" in certain locations on the vehicle. A lot of bleed is worked into the design that can be trimmed away. Creating a pattern that seamlessly wraps all the way around and meets accurately on both ends is usually something we stay away from doing.

[morganm46339060]

Yeah, the file has been laid out so that I create 12 individual vertical strips that are applied one next to the other. This will minimise the need for stretching, but created the issue where i worry about the grpahics lining up from one piece to the next.