Surface pattern design is not just for the professionals! If you’ve ever browsed our site, there’s a good chance you’ve been curious to know how designers have created their seamless repeats. Today we’re putting the tools into your own hands (professional, aspiring or otherwise) with a simple step-by-step tutorial that shows one way to create your very own seamless repeat design, no fancy editing software required! This article was originally written by Laurie Shipley in 2019 and published on the Spoonflower Blog.
Materials Required
- Tape
- 8.5″ x 11″ (20.32 cm x 27.94 cm) piece of paper
- Pens, pencils, markers or crayons
- A straight edge or ruler
- Craft knife or scissors
- Access to a scanner
- Optional: Cutting surface
Step 1: Create your drawing
The key is not to let any of your artwork go off the page—keep it contained!
Step 2: Cut your paper in half
Once you have your drawing how you’d like it, cut your paper in half lengthwise using a craft knife or scissors.
Step 3: Swap and tape
Switch the two pieces of paper without rotating them and tape them together on the reverse side.
Step 4: Cut your paper in half again
Using the same process, cut your paper down the middle widthwise.
Step 5: Swap and tape
Switch these two pieces of paper without rotating them and tape them together on the reverse side.
Step 6: Brainstorm
You will now see that you have bisected your art in both directions and there will be an empty area in the middle of your drawing. You’ll need to fill in the blank space.
Step 7: Keep designing
Use your pen or pencil to add to your design so there aren’t any gaps and the spacing of your artwork feels consistent. You can continue to add design elements throughout, just remember to stay off the edges.
Step 8: Color your artwork
Use markers, pencils or crayons to color in elements of your pattern if you’d like. Leave the background white for best results.
And that’s it!
Scan your artwork into your computer as a JPG at 150 DPI or higher, and upload* the file to Spoonflower as a basic repeat. You now have a seamless design that’s ready to turn into fabric or wallpaper.
*You may wish to “clean up” any stray lines in Photoshop or Illustrator before uploading to Spoonflower.