Expand Patterned Object Without Changing the Size of the Pattern Items

[michaelm101]

I imported an AI (alterable) fleur de lis pattern that I like, but will need to cover a larger area. When I "expand," it naturally expands the size of every single fleur de lis...

What may I do to get this perfect-sized pattern to cover a larger area of the art-board?

Thanks in advance!

[Monika Gause]

Is that a real pattern swatch aplied to a rectangle?

Then go to Preferences > General and turn off "Transform patterns"

[michaelm101]

Thank you!  The photo here is not the actual thing that I'm using. It's a pattern from a manipulable Adobe stock (will add this).

I expanded with "Transform patterns " OFF- but the little fleur de lis got BIGGER...

[Monika Gause]

Files from Adobe Stock might be built in a myriad of ways. Some of which might not be the best approach.

So without knowing what exactly is happening, this might get difficult.

Instead of expanding the pattern, you could try and Object > Flatten transparency.

Or rebuild the pattern from the base object and making your own version of it.

[michaelm101]

Thank you! I have opted to rebuild the pattern. How does one make it perfectly aligned with equal spacing top & bottom, etc... That is without having to ZOOM to microscope level of magnification to "eyeball it."

Also, while I'm here, how does one make perfect allignments with other objects like corner borders, etc without having to "eyeball?" This will save me lots of time and headache/frustration!!!

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

You can use the pattern maker to create a seamless pattern. Use pixels or points as units and no fractions in the size of the pattern tile.

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/create-edit-patterns.html

[Mike_Gondek · Accepted solution]

Are you sure this is a repeating pattern, or vector artwork, masked by a rectangle. You can view >> Outline to check, if you see the vector shapes, then it is an expanded pattern. You can then use direct select tool to grab one Fleur De LIs and use Object >> pattern >> Make, then adjust Pattern Option for how you want to repeat.

I would grab the vector