Extending a sample to area

[y_a_r_o]

Having a picture of a sample material like e.g. a tile how can I extend it to cover an area like a wall with a pattern made of that sample?

[Norman Sanders]

With the single tile file open, choose Edit > Define Pattern. Name it and then OK

Open a new file with dimensions you designate

Choose Edit > Fill.  Contents: Pattern 

In the Custom Pattern field use the down area to see patterns. Yours is the last one

Mode: Normal. 

OK

[y_a_r_o]

This is great. It even does the brick type fill. Many thanks. Not sure though how to change the size of my pattern for it to better reflect the actual size of a tile as default produces tiles way too big.

[Norman Sanders]

Make the tile image a smaller size before making it a pattern.

[Conrad C]

The Edit > Fill command is the older way to make a pattern, and it works fine, but the problem is that it lays down fixed pixels that can’t be changed later.

The newer way is to choose Layer > New Fill Layer > Pattern. That creates an adjustable fill type of layer that can apply any pattern preset available in the Patterns panel. A faster shortcut, shown in the animation below, is to click the Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer button in the Layers panel, and then choose Pattern.

The advantage is that you can adjust the fill layer at any time, and one of the adjustments is Scale. To adjust a fill layer later, double-click it in the Layers panel. You can even change the pattern if you want.

[y_a_r_o]

This is very nice as well. I actually found a Scale option in Fill Contents which missed initially. It isn't that acurate or flexible but allows to give a good idea of how the area may look like. Made note of both methods. I'm very gratefull for the help.