Define Pattern Not Enabled - Why???

[Shotster]

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

[WissemA]

Hey, I had the same problem earlier and as you said when I use the pen tool or the control command to select the area, the "define pattern" is disabled, but if I use the rectangle selection tool it works.

[Smiling_Carcass · Accepted solution]

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.

[mavante]

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.

[Cathyee29548462y8vh]

" 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!

[amyc61419590]

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

[Nawal5CBC]

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