Advice on working with patterns and templates please, Affinity Designer Windows Desktop

[GuineaPig]

Hello

I'd like some advice on completing a specific task on Affinity Designer for Windows Desktop please. It's quite a long winded process so I'll break it down as simply as possible. 

I need to create some artwork ready for printing ceramic transfers. I have a pdf template which contains the specific shape I need each piece transfer to be. I have a seamless pattern of the artwork that I'd like to use. I'll scale this up for larger items and down for smaller items. 

I need to be able to fill the transfer shape with the pattern, adjust the scale and then pick up that shape and paste it into another document ready for printing. I have attached one of the pdf files with a jug template.

I think it is perhaps something to do with creating a mask and using layers but my current skill set doesn't stretch far enough for me to work it out!

A nudge in the right direction would be much appreciated, thank you. 

Jug Template.pdf

[firstdefence]

Welcome to the forum @GuineaPig

To fill a curve with a repeating pattern you would generally use the gradient tool, I know that sounds a bit odd but the fill option has a bitmap choice that you can select to use with an image file such as a png or jpg. One of the obvious questions for you would be would the pattern to be used as a fill be curved to follow the flattened shape of the jug?

[thomaso]

While the mentioned "Bitmap Fill" offers to auto-fill with multiple 'copies' of a certain image to create a pattern, you can place an image file or Affinity document that contains the pattern already as an image resource, either clipped by the transfer shape (top) – or use the shape as cropping mask for the image (bottom). The difference gets set in the Layers panel by the layers position and hierarchy. For instance …

[GuineaPig]

42 minutes ago, thomaso said:

While the mentioned "Bitmap Fill" offers to auto-fill with multiple 'copies' of a certain image to create a pattern, you can place an image file or Affinity document that contains the pattern already as an image resource, either clipped by the transfer shape (top) – or use the shape as cropping mask for the image (bottom). The difference gets set in the Layers panel by the layers position and hierarchy. For instance …

Thank you so much, this is EXACTLY what I was after. I know it's a lot to ask of you, but would you be so kind as to do a step by step on how you did this please? I'd really appreciate it. 

[thomaso]

1. Open the PDF with the Transfer Shape in Affinity.
2. Place the pattern image or Affinity document. (via either menu "File" > "Place" or via the "Place Image Tool")
3. In the Layers Panel drag either the placed image/document or the shape onto/inside the other layer to use the shape as mask for the pattern.

For details in the Layers panel hierarchy & handling see also:
Layer Clipping:   https://affinity.help/publisher2/English.lproj/pages/Layers/layerClip.html
Layer Drop Zones:  https://affinity.help/publisher2/English.lproj/pages/Layers/layerDropZones.html
 

[GuineaPig]

1 hour ago, thomaso said:

1. Open the PDF with the Transfer Shape in Affinity.
2. Place the pattern image or Affinity document. (via either menu "File" > "Place" or via the "Place Image Tool")
3. In the Layers Panel drag either the placed image/document or the shape onto/inside the other layer to use the shape as mask for the pattern.

For details in the Layers panel hierarchy & handling see also:
Layer Clipping:   https://affinity.help/publisher2/English.lproj/pages/Layers/layerClip.html
Layer Drop Zones:  https://affinity.help/publisher2/English.lproj/pages/Layers/layerDropZones.html
 

Thank you so much. I have been worried about how I was going to do this for weeks. You've saved me a lot of hard work and I really appreciate it. Thanks again. 

[NotMyFault]

I would like to add 2 comments:

1. If pixel perfect results are intended, please ensure you have snapping enabled when adding the bitmap fill and align the start and end node of the fill to integer pixel positions. Otherwise you will get a visible seam (thin line with lighter or darker colors). If you scale the fill, the alignment must be repeated to the actual target resolution.
2. The shape looks like a part from either a larger circle, or a pyramid with round base, e.g. a projection of a 3D surface to a 2D shape. If this is the case then the pattern needs a perspective correction, probably a different for every tile depending on tile position. There is a special method to apply a fill to multiple layers in one step, so each tile gets the correct portion of the fill layer.

[firstdefence]

Does it matter about a pattern mismatch at the seam where the vertical edges meet on the jug, or is that acceptable quirky charm? 

[thomaso]

10 hours ago, GuineaPig said:

I have been worried about how I was going to do this for weeks. You've saved me a lot of hard work

While the workflow described above in the steps 1-3 are rather basic features of Affinity (nothing to "worry about" or "hard work"), the additional hints of @NotMyFault and @firstdefence make me wonder whether the difficulty will be to achieve a fully seamless result with your seamless artwork for this irregular, curved transfer shape that appears to indicate a curved object.

I understood your info…

16 hours ago, GuineaPig said:

I have a seamless pattern of the artwork that I'd like to use. I'll scale this up for larger items and down for smaller items. 

… that the artwork exists as a seamless pattern already, which "just" needs scaling & cropping to match the transfer shape. So just in case you want to adjust the created artwork to the curved / perspective shape: You can use AD or APh to bend/stretch/warp the pattern for its seamlessness at the shape edges.

Warping vector:  https://affinity.help/designer2/English.lproj/index.html?page=pages/ObjectControl/warp.html?title=Warping objects
Perspective Filter:  https://affinity.help/designer2/English.lproj/index.html?page=pages/Filters/filter_perspective.html?title=Live Perspective filter
Perspective Tool (APh):  https://affinity.help/photo2/English.lproj/index.html?page=pages/SizeTransform/perspective.html?title=Perspective

When placing the image (regardless of the method as one resource layer for the image or via auto-multiplied pattern-creation with the Gradient/Fill Tool) the recently mentioned "pixel perfect" alignment would not harm but possibly is not relevant in your mentioned use for "printing ceramic transfers" which, as far I understand, will get baked/heated and thus might lose a "pixel perfect" attitude by expanding/shrinking during the entire process.

If your "worry" rather concerns the entire process including print and tile production there are a few tutorials online, for instance
https://www.instructables.com/DIY-Ceramic-Decals-From-Your-Laser-Printer/

[NotMyFault]

Thomaso is right, my advise is more for other users finding this thread by search for similar but eventually different use cases where those details matter.

[thomaso]

1 hour ago, NotMyFault said:

more for other users finding this thread by search for similar but eventually different use cases where those details matter.

In this case possible difficulties may increase when the Fill/Gradient Tool and its "Bitmap Fill" gets used that you and @firstdefence mentioned before. Its limited interface for pattern creation with reduced visual and missing numerical control may cause more issues or questions than just the "force pixel aligned" setting. – So a user who wants to use "Bitmap Fill" may need quite more hints for a pixel perfect workflow than this @GuineaPig's thread currently seems to require.

https://affinity.help/publisher2/English.lproj/index.html?page=pages/Tools/tools_gradient.html?title=Gradient Tool
https://affinity.help/publisher2/English.lproj/index.html?page=pages/Clr/gradientEditor.html?title=Gradient and bitmap fills

Personally I would rather recommend NOT to use the Fill/Gradient Tool and "Bitmap Fill" for such a task, just because it could require more precision than the tool interface offers to the user. Instead it may work well to create a pattern artwork with other features like "Move Data Entry", "Symbol" (AD), "Symmetry" (AD, for pixel) … which may exceed this or another thread about "How to fill a shape with an image" but would rather meet "How to create seamless pattern".

[GuineaPig]

10 hours ago, firstdefence said:

Does it matter about a pattern mismatch at the seam where the vertical edges meet on the jug, or is that acceptable quirky charm? 

There is a gap in the pattern where the handle is so no need to match the pattern on the vertical edges, thank goodness! 🙂 

[GuineaPig]

8 hours ago, thomaso said:

While the workflow described above in the steps 1-3 are rather basic features of Affinity (nothing to "worry about" or "hard work"), the additional hints of @NotMyFault and @firstdefence make me wonder whether the difficulty will be to achieve a fully seamless result with your seamless artwork for this irregular, curved transfer shape that appears to indicate a curved object.

I understood your info…

… that the artwork exists as a seamless pattern already, which "just" needs scaling & cropping to match the transfer shape. So just in case you want to adjust the created artwork to the curved / perspective shape: You can use AD or APh to bend/stretch/warp the pattern for its seamlessness at the shape edges.

Warping vector:  https://affinity.help/designer2/English.lproj/index.html?page=pages/ObjectControl/warp.html?title=Warping objects
Perspective Filter:  https://affinity.help/designer2/English.lproj/index.html?page=pages/Filters/filter_perspective.html?title=Live Perspective filter
Perspective Tool (APh😞 https://affinity.help/photo2/English.lproj/index.html?page=pages/SizeTransform/perspective.html?title=Perspective

When placing the image (regardless of the method as one resource layer for the image or via auto-multiplied pattern-creation with the Gradient/Fill Tool) the recently mentioned "pixel perfect" alignment would not harm but possibly is not relevant in your mentioned use for "printing ceramic transfers" which, as far I understand, will get baked/heated and thus might lose a "pixel perfect" attitude by expanding/shrinking during the entire process.

If your "worry" rather concerns the entire process including print and tile production there are a few tutorials online, for instance
https://www.instructables.com/DIY-Ceramic-Decals-From-Your-Laser-Printer/

Thank you @thomaso, the ceramics and firing side of things we're comfortable with, it's something we've been doing for many years. 

With regards the seamless pattern, there is a gap where the handle of the jug sits so the pattern doesn't need to match on the vertical edges. Also, whilst there is a slight flare in the template, the jug itself is straight sided so no need to warp the design to allow for the curve. I can see you have included a link for warping vectors so I'll be sure to save this for future reference should the need arise. 

Thank you again 🙂