Patterns for Adobe ® Photoshop ®+ ElementsIntroduction

Thanks for the interest in the patterns designs. I hope this document will ena-ble you to find many different ways of using the patterns designs. If you haveany questions, please contact me on my site, graphicxtras.com. If you havepurchased the patterns pack or collection, thank you. If you are consideringpurchasing a set or two and have any questions, please ask. There are many

samplers on the graphicxtras.com site. If you have been checking the patternsout and have some questions, again, please ask.

If you find anything confusing in this documentation, please let me know and Iwill try and update it.

Andrew

Installation Of patterns (if PAT format)

Extract the PAT files from the zip file (use an application such as PKUnzip orStuffit expander if required). Once expanded, place the PAT files in the Pho-toshop folder ‘patterns’ (found in the presets folder). You might be required toenter a password to place the files in the folder (the admin password). If youplace the files in your user account, you will not need to enter the admin pass-word but you will then need to browse for the PAT file via the patterns palette.

Installation of PSD / PNG files in Photoshop

From set 10 onwards of the patterns, PNG files are also included along with thePAT files. The PAT format files are the same as PAT patterns. The PNG patternsare for applications such as Paint Shop Pro and Xara.

To install the patterns, please place in a patterns folder (create one) and thenuse the file > open command and then use the define pattern command (editmenu in Photoshop) This adds the pattern to the pattern library.

You can also set up a simple action and process the PSD / PNG files. Capture adefine pattern command for an open pattern and close action. Run this for allthe patterns and the patterns will be added to the current patterns palette.

Please note, if you add all the patterns to the patterns, the PAT library mayend up very large and this may make the opening of Photoshop very very slow.Please be warned about adding a large number of large files to the patternspalette.

Once defined, the pattern can be accessed via the usual patterns library. Iwould suggest adding them to themed patterns libraries instead of addingthem all to a single library.

Installation of PSD / PNG files in PhotoshopElements

If included, the PSD / PNG patterns can be added to Elements in a similar wayto Photoshop. Use the file > open command and then edit menu and definepattern. Sadly, there is no action / process for each file command in PSE

Installation of PSD / PNG files in Paint ShopPro

If included, place the PSD / PNG files in the patterns folder of Paint Shop Pro.You can use the preference file locations to find the location of the patternsfolder (generally in presets patterns of Paint Shop Pro but this varies). You canalso redefine the pattern folder via the materials palette. The patterns can thenbe accessed via the materials palette. Use as fills etc

The patterns can also be used in many other applications

Install of EPS patterns / designs (if included -not in all sets)

Some of the sets include AI as well as EPS designs or patterns. To access, sim-ply use the place command found in the Photoshop file menu or use the file >open command. You can also use the edit > define pattern command on theEPS designs to import them as patterns

Patterns install folder

The location of the presets on the PC is generally

PCc:\program files\adobe\adobe photoshop CS4\presets\patternsc:\program files\adobe\adobe photoshop CS3\presets\patternsc:\program files\adobe\adobe photoshop CS2\presets\patternsc:\program files\adobe\photoshop CS\presets\patterns

on the Mac HD:

Applications: Adobe Photoshop CS4:presets:patternsApplications: Adobe Photoshop CS3:presets:patternsApplications: Adobe Photoshop CS2:presets:patternsApplications:Adobe Photoshop CS:presets:patterns

(or 6 or 7 or elements 1 2 3 4 5 6 equivalent)

The patterns can be placed in any folder if you wish. You will need to accessthem via the open command or the load / replace command (PS)

As mentioned, you may have to enter your admin password to store the itemsin the presets folder, depends on the type of user. If you are installing themusing an admin account this is not an issue

Serial number

Please store the serial reference number for reference and future updates orreplacement CDs

Royalty-free

The patterns are royalty-free.

They are non-exclusive.

Please feel free to use them in many different projects, commercial or hobby.Please check the license for the usage and / or the examples (online) file

The copyright of the original patterns still remains with Andrew Buckle / AbneilSoftware Ltd

Patterns in Photoshop ® palette / load / re-place

1) Select fill or pattern stamp tool or layer effects->pattern overlay or brushespalette / texture

2) Go to the patterns palette dropdown

3) Click the menu dropdown on the right of the patterns palette and select apattern file from the pattern dropdown or use the load / replace command

With the latest versions, the PAT files can also be loaded via the open file com-mand as a normal file though the items are added to the current palette

Demo use / patterns

If you are using this set as a demo / sampler and would like to purchase thepatterns, please check out the patterns page for more details of all the pat-terns included in the full collection. The pattern sampler is as, it might or mightnot be the same resolution or an exact sample of the items in the collection.The pattern sampler is useful for also determining whether or not the patternswill work on your system or version of PS. The sampler patterns can also beused in commercial work if you wish.

Patterns use / other documentation

For how to use patterns, please consult the Photoshop manual or any guideson the subject such as the excellent Scott Kelby books as well as the stunningwow! books. Magazines such as Computer Arts, EFX (sadly this magazine doesnot appear to be available any more, certainly not in the UK) and Digit arewonderful sources for information about the use of the patterns, supplying tu-torials and examples. I would also suggest checking out sites such as Pho-toshop TV for information on how to use the patterns. Also another useful siteis the Photoshop Elements User site and that is packed with tutorials etc, pat-terns are probably included.

EPS patterns (if included)

The EPS files in the EPS patterns folder (if included, not all sets have this) canbe imported into Photoshop in a number of ways, via the clipboard and Illus-trator or just open the EPS files and setting the rasterization.

On opening in Photoshop, you will be offered a setting for the rasterization,you can use this, or you can decide you want a 4000 x 4000 600 dpi import, ora 10 x 10 72 dpi import. The EPS files are resolution free.

I have added a crop mark to all the EPS files, you might like to edit that. If youremove the crop mark, an edge will appear around the imported pattern in PS.Using Illustrator (or similar) modify the crop marks to change the pattern. Aslong as you align center the crop marks and the object, the pattern will be pre-served. Different sizes of rectangular crop marks will result in different pat-terns. Use the object menu->crop marks release command to release the cropmarks and re-sized, delete, as required.

The pattern can then, if so desired, be added to the Photoshop patterns files.

Please place the EPS pattern files in preset patterns [ PostScript Patterns ] subfolder along with the supplied AI files, though another folder can be used, andthis will depend on the application. The files can be imported into many appli-cations such as Paint Shop Pro ® (especially useful for the browser)

The EPS files can also be imported into other applications

Selection

Use the pattern and any transparency associated with the pattern to create aselection, delete the pattern and use the selection to fill with a gradient or ef-fect etc

Export to other applications

The patterns can also be exported for use in other applications or perhaps asdisplacement maps for use in Photoshop native tools such as the "displace"filter and glass filter / factory or use in 3rd party plug-ins such as KPT ® Sphe-roid Designer or even exporting to 3D applications and using the patterns as atexture. The patterns can also be exported to applications such as Paint ShopPro ® and used as a bitmap pattern in the patterns folder of PSP (via the ma-terials palette)

The patterns should be easy to export, simply create a file the size of the pat-tern. The size of the pattern is generally indicated in the pattern tile so if itsays 500 x 500 then create a file 500 x 500.

All the designs are 300 DPI

TIFF is probably the best format to use as you should be able to open this inmany other applications. PNG is useful but is not compatible with many appli-cations (for some reason)

Pattern to pattern

Patterns can be used to create new patterns, simply create a file (you will haveto determine the correct size for a pattern, though recent versions indicate thesize in the palette thumbnail) and then fill the file with the pattern. If you getappropriately the pattern fill, you might like to use the ImageReady Tilemakerplug-in to create a seamless tile from that approximate pattern. You can alsomanipulate the pattern and as long as you avoid ruining the edges of the tile,the tile will still remain seamless

Pattern thumbnails

There is a thumbnails gallery folder with all the palette shots of the patterns.You might like to create your own, simply open the palette and then alt-printscreen

Or use the patterns and fill a small selection with the current pattern and re-peat for all the patterns in the set, save this file. Or if save the pattern fill to asingle file for each pattern and then save to a folder.

Other items

We have brushes for Photoshop, shapes for Photoshop, plug-ins for Photoshop,styles, gradients, displacement maps, ... please check outhttp://www.graphicxtras.com

Also you can find items from graphicxtras.com onhttp://www.digiscrapwarehouse.com

Installation issues

If you have problems installing or using this product, please e-mail our techsupport at support@graphicxtras.com

Comments

If you have any suggestions to how we can improve our products or manual,or if there is something that is hard to understand or badly stated, please con-tact us and we will try to correct any errors or misunderstandings in the nextrelease of the manual. It is always great to hear your feedback.

System requirements

Applications supportedAdobe ® Photoshop ® CS4Adobe ® Photoshop ® CS3Adobe ® Photoshop ® CS2Adobe ® Photoshop ® CS1Adobe ® Photoshop ® 7Adobe ® Photoshop ® 6 (some of the patterns work in 6)Adobe ® Photoshop ® Elements 7Adobe ® Photoshop ® Elements 6Adobe ® Photoshop ® Elements 5Adobe ® Photoshop ® Elements 4Adobe ® Photoshop ® Elements 3Adobe ® Photoshop ® Elements 2Adobe ® Photoshop ® Elements 1 (some work in version 1)

Windows ™ 98, and NT, ME, XP, VistaMac OS X 10.5 10.4 10.3 10.2 10.1

If the set includes PNG or PSD files then the patterns can also be used inCorel ® Paint Shop Pro ® Photo X2Corel ® Paint Shop Pro ® Photo X1Corel ® Paint Shop Pro ® Photo XCorel ® Paint Shop Pro ® Photo 9Corel ® Paint Shop Pro ® Photo 8And many other applications that support the PNG format

Minimum Requirements: At least 64 MB of memory, though some operationsmight require a lot more (patterns are hefty users of resource; also too manypatterns or too big a pattern set, might slowdown startup)

Trademarks

The patterns were created by Andrew Buckle, and copyright 2000-2009(depending on the set) Abneil software ltd (Andrew Buckle)

All products mentioned in this manual are trademarked or probably trade-marked by their respective owners. Illustrator and Photoshop and Adobe andAfter Effects are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated.

We have no connection whatsoever with Adobe Systems Incorporated.

Screenshots are shown with kind permission of Adobe Systems Incorporated.They are purely shown as examples of how to use the pattern designs as wellas a tutorial of their use in Photoshop (or other applications)

Company address

Telephone / FAX: UK 01622 688 375

http://www.graphicxtras.com

support@graphicxtras.com

Fill content / fill layers

Patterns can be used as fills or fill layer content (and can be re-scaled) or usedin layer effects in patterns overlays or textures

For a fill, a normal edit->fill, simply apply a pattern by setting the fill / usemethod to pattern

Set the opacity and pattern and blending mode as required

The actual use of the fill and the application depends on the fill and whether itholds any transparency information.

Fill layer

Using patterns with the new fill layer content, go to the layer menu and selectfill content (pattern)

The scaling of the pattern can be set (unlike the setting in the basic fill)

Rasterize the fill content and then you can modify the fill via the layer stylesuch as adding a bevel or stroke etc

For a layer, the pattern can also be used as a pattern overlay or used to addtexture to a bevel (the former depends on the transparency setting of the pat-tern)

Here the style is modified to include a bevel texture using the pattern

and here the pattern is being used as an overlay (which can interact with theother effects via blending modes / opacity etc)

Patterns and blending modes

Apply a fill new layer content > pattern. Repeat with a new layer fill content >pattern. Use the same or different pattern as required

Set the topmost layer blending mode to a different blending mode such aslighten or difference or one of the other blending modes.

The layers can be shifted as required by selecting the layer and using the movetool. Align the layers as required. Use to create 100s of different and uniquepatterns from a combination of two or more patterns

This can also be applied to a non pattern designs: start with an image or textand then apply a fill layer pattern. An example below using a lighten blendingmode

Patterns and opacity

Instead of using blending modes, the opacity can be set to less than 100%allowing some of the image below through (either another pattern or an actualimage)

Rasterize layer

You cannot apply effects such as blurs until you rasterize the layer. Layer >rasterize > fill content or layer.

Below is an example showing a rasterized pattern and a watercolor effect ap-plied.

You will also need to rasterize the fill content to apply a transformation such asa warp or perspective

You will also need to rasterize the layer to apply other tools or fills to the layer,such as the gradient tool (below) In this case, the lock transparent pixels wasset to ON

Pattern stamp brush

The pattern stamp brush tool uses the brushes and the patterns to great ef-fect. In CS / CS2 / CS3 / CS4, the pattern stamp can also use the pattern as asource for impressionist brush strokes and superb colorful patterned imagerycan be created.

Using subtle brush strokes (perhaps 50% opacity or a different blendingmode), stunning surreal images are possible.

Set the impressionist on

And then paint

From the following pattern

Patterns on patterns

You can apply a pattern (perhaps best via a layer pattern fill content), apply anew layer fill and then go to the layer palette and set the layer blending modeto difference or exclusion or multiply and then go back to the layer scaling orfill / scaling and modify the combination of layered patterns to create stunningunique patterns. This can be repeated with many additional layers or perhapsusing a gradient as an overlay instead or even a basic fill.

Patterns and selections

A pattern can be used to fill a selection. Useful if you wish to use a pattern tocreate a frame. A quick frame: select an area, invert, and then apply the pat-tern.

Patterns and text

Patterns can be used in combination with text. Use as a pattern overlay in lay-er effects.

Use the pattern as a fill for a text selection

Patterns and effects

The pattern shouldn't be the (only) end result. You can start with the patternbut remember that you can also apply effects to the pattern such as blurs orre-color the pattern or apply distortions maps via the glass or displace or evenapply brush strokes to the pattern (and perhaps save the new pattern)

Original image below

Apply water color effect

Or glass filter

Or wave filter

Or perhaps a third party plug-in such as an effect from the Andrew’s Plug-ins(graphicxtras.com)

Textures for brushes

In version 7 and CS and CS2 and CS3 and CS4, the patterns can be used astextures for the brushes via the brushes panel (textures section)

Apply the brush strokes using any of the brushes supplied or perhaps usingthird party brush designs.

The depth and scaling of the textures can be modified via the palette. Patternscan be used in many of the brush tools to create unusual brushed texturesstrokes.

As with all the brush tools, the brush strokes and textures can be used to greateffect on a new layer (simply create a new layer and then apply a layer effect)and then use the brushes / texture to create 3D textured brush strokes

Patterns and selections

Enter the quick mask mode and use the fill command to apply a pattern to thecurrent image, return to edit mode to have the pattern returned as a selection.Apply effects to the pattern selection, fill the selection, apply a stroke to theselection, feather the selection and more.

Patterns and color modes

Patterns can also be applied in different color modes such as CMYK and LAB

Or in LAB

Or use the fills in grayscale

Patterns and channels

Go to the channel palette and select the red channel or the red and green etc(any combination other than all the channels) and then fill the current selectedchannels with the current pattern. All the other channels will be untouched bythe pattern

The above shows a single channel being selected and the fill applied. The imagebelow shows all the channels being selected

Likewise the pattern can be manipulated via the channel palette. Fill all thechannels with a pattern using the edit > fill

Select one of the channels as below

Apply a blur or another effect as required, or perhaps draw or paint over the fillin a particular channel (in the case below, the red channel)

Now select all the channels to see the end result (a blurry red background)

Patterns and displacements

Recent versions of Photoshop show the size of the pattern (500 x 500 etc) Cre-ate a document at that size and fill with the pattern. Save the document as aPSD file

Go to the distort menu and select the glass or displace and other filters thataccept displacement maps. Use the pattern displacement to apply distortions,displacements and textures

Some of the recent packs include only the PSD / PNG files. You may still have toconvert them to grayscale or save them in your current format PSD to accessthem via the displacement filters. This is definitely the case with the PNG files,they will need to be converted to PSD before they can be used by the glass etcfilter. Run a batch process to convert them all (automate batch menu)