Illustrator Pattern Making Vans Custom Culture Graphic Design

Create a repeating pattern:

A. Choose a
vector image
or create your
own and insert
into Ai. (drag &
drop)

B. Use the
image trace
tool to create
vector shapes
from your
image.
Illustrator Pattern Making Vans Custom Culture Graphic Design

C. Next to the
image trace
tool, use the
expand tool to
separate your
vector image
into shapes.

D. Use the
direct select
tool to select
the
background
color of your
image.

E. Once the
background
color is
selected, use
the SELECT
drop down
menu and
then OBJECT,
then SAME, FILL COLOR

*This will select all similar colors on that layer.

Illustrator Pattern Making Vans Custom Culture Graphic Design

F. Go ahead
and modify
your object
however you
want it.
*Here we used
the targets
to modify the
corner radius
from round to
sharp corners.

G. Once
you're
satisfied with
your shape,
go to
OBJECT,
PATTERN,
MAKE and
click OK.
Illustrator Pattern Making Vans Custom Culture Graphic Design

H. Your screen
should look like
this.

I.Use the tile

type drop down
menu to select
your pattern
layout.
Illustrator Pattern Making Vans Custom Culture Graphic Design

J. Now lock the height

and width constraint
(the tool to the right
that looks like a link)

this allows you to

proportional modify
the spacing of your
pattern.

When you're ready

select okay. Your
pattern will appear as
a swatch in your
swatches window.

K. Create a new layer.

Illustrator Pattern Making Vans Custom Culture Graphic Design

L. Use your rectangle shape

tool to create a background.

*Fill with color.

M. Use the same tool to create

another full canvas shape.

*Fill with your pattern swatch.

Illustrator Pattern Making Vans Custom Culture Graphic Design

N. To change the scale of your

pattern, double click your scale
tool. When this menu appears
make sure only TRANSFORM
PATTERN is selected. Then use
the uniform scale to modify your
pattern.

* When youre ready click ok.

Illustrator Pattern Making Vans Custom Culture Graphic Design

O. After you create your pattern, if you

would like to change the color or layout
select your pattern in the swatches menu
then select the edit pattern tool right
below.

* This will bring you back into the pattern

editing mode where you can modify then
click save as copy NOT DONE. Then click
CANCEL to escape with both patterns in
your swatches menu.