Vector Patterns

[barbBear]

(Using Designer 2.3); Well, I'm not sure if I'm asking this question correctly, but... in the past, I have used other software to create vector patterns. I compose an artificial bounding box (filled & stroke with 'None') and then create a pattern following a "five-on-the-dice" organization.  I drag this set of components onto the swatches panel, and it creates a "pattern" swatch. (e.g.; image below right with colored circles.) Advantages of the vector pattern include, the file size and memory requirements are relatively small (compared to using a bitmap) and vector patterns can easily be resized without compromising quality. Having the pattern as a fill or stroke element is a very fast tool when creating prototypes or versions (such as - of packaging products).

I could also create a vector pattern brush. For instance, I could create a vector element and define it (the graphic element) to repeat or stretch to the brush stroke's distance. I read about Designer's vector brush strokes, but they appear to be generic. I may be missing something, though. When creating a border or frame brush, a corner element (inside and outside corners) and perhaps an ending element could also be added as a graphic entity or symbol.

I see that symbols have been added to Designer; however, creating manual repetitions is both time-consuming, requires diligent attention to spacing issues, and it is difficult to execute if the shape is not a standard, generic shape.

Is there a way to create a graphic element and define it (the graphic entity) as a filling pattern the way I would normally fill with a color?

Barb.

[thomaso]

Vector Brushes use bitmap images along their vector path. A Bitmap Fill gives you the option to fill an area of any shape quite quickly with multiple copies of an image and thus create a pattern, but as its name says also these pattern will be rasterized. For some pattern types and Raster Brushes the "Symmetry" feature may be helpful. Also using a Grid with its various possible axis & angles may be useful. … There are quite a few tutorials / videos for pattern creation with Affinity, for instance

https://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/how-to-create-patterns-in-affinity-designer--cms-31947

https://www.youtube.com/Create A Pattern Fill with Affinity Designer

https://affinityspotlight.com/article/learn-how-to-make-a-dreamcatcher-using-symmetry/

Symbols would be the choice for patterns as vector elements. The V2 feature "Move Data Entry" can be used as an improved interface to create multiple copies of objects or instances of symbols via Power Duplicate.

https://affinity.help/designer2/English.lproj/index.html?page=pages/ObjectControl/duplicate.html?title=Duplicating objects

https://affinityspotlight.com/article/cool-rotations-and-transforms-in-affinity-22/

58 minutes ago, barbBear said:

Is there a way to create a graphic element and define it (the graphic entity) as a filling pattern the way I would normally fill with a color?

Not in the same simple 1-click way. The Bitmap Fill, applied with the Fill Tool to vector shapes, could be the closest way like applying a fill colour – but its fill is bitmap, not vector. Once you created vector base elements for a pattern then Symbols may be the fastest way to achieve a pattern for a use as fill.

[barbBear]

Thank you. Rewatching the videos was helpful. I do like the ability to create multiple objects during creation with the arrow keys, and the (Return key) feature to create items by coordinates is Great! I love being able to type in numbers to create, move and manipulate objects.

I appreciate your response.

Best wishes, Barb.