Tiling for surface designs

[Sunset]

This is a big ask, I want to design surface texture patterns and for that I need to be able to tile my patterns as a 3x3 (for example) grid so that when I draw in one of the tiles I can see the line being copied into the other 8 grids simultaneously. The huge advantage of this is being able to ensure that my patterns flow smoothly through the repeats as I work. Not the same as being able to replicate and mirror designs where you only find out that the pattern doesn't join properly after all (think wallpaper and dress material). This is what I was hoping to do with the first DP that I bought many, many years ago.

 

I do have this functionality with the software that I use for knitwear designing (designaknit8) and it is amazingly creative - I can convert 24 stitch repeat patterns into things that look much more exciting oh blah blah blah I could go on forever, but that program isn't sufficiently sophisticated for other uses.

[Dave Harris]

We have plans for a "Symbol" feature which I think will help you. Symbols are "live" copies of a master object, so that edits to the master are replicated in the copy. The copies can be sized, positioned and reflected independently, so you could make a grid of them that I think will do what you want. I can't say when this feature will be available, but it's definitely something we intend to do.

[Sunset]

I'll look forward to that and trying it out, it would certainly be worth trying. I've spent the morning searching for something that does what I want but only the really expensive fashion-house programs seem to have it, way beyond my league for something that is only an interest.