Seamless pattern problem

[Frankly]

I am making a half drop repeating seamless pattern in Designer that I'm using lines with multiple overlapping gaussian blur effects applied. I always have problems with shadow effect matching up at the seams of the pattern, and was hoping to find some solutions. Matching up lines that cross a seam can be a challenge, but when I create a blur effect, it never matches on the other side of the seam. The has to be a method for using shadows and highlights that can be learned that works reasonably well, but I haven't seen found any instructions that deal with such that specific niche of using this program.

Here is a screen shot to show what I'm referring to-- you can see the seam where the tile doesn't match up with the blur effect, especially in the corner of the half drop.

[firstdefence]

Hi, interesting problem, shadows can have a range that the eye doesn't readily perceive but is there nonetheless. Only when you mismatch that area does the range become apparent.

I think we also need to know how you are making the pattern for seamless tiling?

It will be better if you could upload one of your pattern tiles for us to look at.

[Frankly]

I've been reworking this pattern trying to find a method that repeats seamlessly, but haven't discovered the secret. I used the exact stroke and blur for each line, but when it has the pattern underneath, it doesn't match in a couple of areas. When I create the stroke lines without the pattern art, they match up better, but still not perfectly seamless. I see other artists that do pattern work with shadows and gradients. There must be some instruction on how to do this. Here is the basic shadow pattern without the art to illustrate what I tried to do to patch the areas that had mismatches, but it's virtually impossible to so that. If you remove the patches on this sample shadow pattern it matches up pretty good. This is a half drop repeat, so I made the tile accordingly.

Sample.afdesign

[Old Bruce]

9 hours ago, Frankly said:

I've been reworking this pattern trying to find a method that repeats seamlessly, but haven't discovered the secret.

Immediately I saw that you have a rectangular Artboard, should be a Square. Also you should use Symbol instead of group. The use of Symbols means that if you make an adjustment to one it is repeated automatically to the others.

[Frankly]

If you'll notice, the file has 3 artboards, one is the original square and the two others complete the half drop repeat. The artboard that is square is the tile that will repeat when placed next to itself exactly half the distance up and down next to itself. I gave this file with the half drop artboards to show you how it repeats. I use symbols to do my design work, but in order to make the two halves, I've found that I have to disconnect the symbol. The point is that using the gaussian blur on the stroke does not repeat seamlessly. Matching up the stroke doesn't mean the blur will repeat on the seam. I need to find a method that repeats shadows and transparencies seamlessly.

[DesignerMatt]

Hi there, thanks for messaging us on Facebook about this. I've sent you a DM with an additional query so please could you take a look at that when you get chance and I'll get back to you with my suggestion for this shortly after. Many thanks.

[lepr]

On 2/22/2023 at 5:09 AM, Frankly said:

I've been reworking this pattern trying to find a method that repeats seamlessly, but haven't discovered the secret. I used the exact stroke and blur for each line, but when it has the pattern underneath, it doesn't match in a couple of areas. When I create the stroke lines without the pattern art, they match up better, but still not perfectly seamless. I see other artists that do pattern work with shadows and gradients. There must be some instruction on how to do this. Here is the basic shadow pattern without the art to illustrate what I tried to do to patch the areas that had mismatches, but it's virtually impossible to so that. If you remove the patches on this sample shadow pattern it matches up pretty good. This is a half drop repeat, so I made the tile accordingly.

Sample.afdesign 57.19 kB · 7 downloads

 

A solution is attached. I expect you'll understand how it works when you examine the document, but don't hesitate to ask questions.

Sample New.afdesign

[Frankly]

Thanks a bunch, this is very helpful in teaching me how to use the features in Designer more effectively. I probably will have some questions after I have a chance to deconstruct the process and wrap my head around how it was done.