How to Create Seamless Patterns in Procreate: Diamond Layout Guide
Wondering how to create seamless patterns in Procreate? Our diamond layout method makes pattern design intuitive and professional for absolute beginners.
This comprehensive tutorial walks you through every step of creating flawless repeating patterns for fabric, wallpaper, and surface design. If you’re just starting with pattern design or looking to enhance your digital illustration workflow, you’ll master the technique of creating seamless patterns in Procreate with the proven diamond layout approach.
If you’re an absolute beginner to pattern design, you might want to check our other posts on the blog as well. Here’s one of many that might help you get started: From Sketch to Digital: Workflow Tips for Pattern Designers
Table of Contents
What You Need to Start
Before diving into the steps, let’s gather everything you’ll need to get started:
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- iPad Pro: Ensure you have a compatible model that supports Procreate.
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- Procreate: Download and install this powerful digital illustration app from the App Store.
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- Apple Pencil: This tool will give you precision and control over your designs.
- Basic Knowledge of Procreate: Familiarity with the interface and basic functions of Procreate will help you follow along more quickly.
Step-by-Step Procreate Pattern Tutorial on How to Create Seamless Patterns Using a Diamond Layout Template for Beginners
If you’re ready with your Procreate on your iPad, lets start:
Step 1: Setting Up Your Canvas in Procreate
How to choose the right canvas size
Open Procreate and tap onto “+” icon to create a new canvas.
We usually select a canvas with 3000×3000 pixels Width, height, and 300 dpi resolution. The size of your canvas might change according to what you will create and how you want to use it afterward.
You can upload your pattern to your social media account like Instagram or any type of marketplace websites like Spoonflower or your Etsy future shop. Each platform might require different sizes but the size we use above would meet most of the requirements of different platforms with a good resolution.
Initial settings for grid and guides
A drawing guide on your canvas might be helpful. To do this, click on the small wrench icon at the top left of the screen, next to Gallery.
Turn on Drawing Guide toggle. Click on Edit Drawing Guide and make sure that 2D Grid option is selected. Now, for this tutorial I have divided the screen into 4 grids, therefore have given the Grid Size 1500px.
The drawing guide opens a new layer on top of the background layer. You can draw your diamond shape on the first layer, not on the background layer.
Step 2: Drawing the Basic Diamond Shape
Tools and brushes suitable for creating sharp lines
It is possible to draw by hand or by pencil in Procreate. Click on Brush icon on the right top of the screen. You will see the brush library for different purposes. For sketching purposes, we usually use 6B Pencil.
Take your time to test and play with different brush sets.
Tips on drawing a symmetrical diamond
The diamond shape is the backbone of your seamless pattern. Here’s how to create it:
- Draw a Diamond: Use the Apple Pencil to draw a diamond shape in the center of the canvas. To get precise edges, use the QuickShape tool in Procreate by two finger tap.
When you draw all four sides of the diamond and combined the end to the beginning, keep your pencil on the corner. It will automatically create straight lines and on top a small button will pop up. Click on it and select square. There you have your perfect diamond shape easily. When the square is selected, you can move the corners.
Here, make sure that your Snapping and Magnetics settings are turned on and draw your diamond.
Step 3: Designing Within the Diamond
Ideas for internal patterns or textures
Now comes the fun part – filling each diamond with your unique designs:
- Design Within Boundaries: Make sure your design elements stay within the diamond shape to maintain the seamless pattern.
A very important and useful function in Procreate is the Layers. You can open new layers by clicking on the icon of two squares at the top right.
We recommend creating different type of objects on different layers, as this gives you more control over your design objects.
- Consistency is Key: To create a harmonious pattern, keep the style and color scheme consistent across the diamond.
- One other thing that I usually do is to setup the focal point of the pattern approximately by splitting the canvas into 9 tiles. That way it’d be easier to place your motifs.
Step 4: Making the Pattern Repeatable
How to use the offset tool for pattern alignment
After you are done sketching your initial idea in the diamond, now it’s time to validate your pattern if it is a seamless repeat.
First it might be a good idea to start learning how to group your layers. It is actually pretty simple. Drag the layers you want to group to the rights and they will change color. Once you selected all the layers, click on Group on the top right of the layers menu.
Don’t forget to rename your first group as ‘Original’ so you can always keep it as a backup.
Now, you should create new group. Swipe left to duplicate your group. You can merge layers by pinching them together. This way, your new groups will not have too many layers inside and can be managed more easily.
Repeat this process five times. Place each group at the four corners of the diamond.
Make sure now again that the snapping tool is turned on both Magnetics and Snapping.
Now, select one layer by clicking on the select tool, and slide it horizontally and then to the left. The right edge of the layer would snap to the mid point on your canvas as so your diamond shape.
Repeat the same for other layers for other sides of the diamond
Checking for gaps and overlaps
Once you repeat the pattern on all sides, check for overlapping objects or unintended gaps in your design. Try to imagine it on a big, seamless surface and do the necessary finishing touches to your design to get to your final pattern.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Overcomplicating the design
Avoid overcomplicating your design by creating too many layers and complicated design.
Misalignment issues and how to resolve them
If it is your first time, just take your time and check your design by repeating the same process above to see a bigger picture on a bigger canvas.
Go through each side of your design to check for the issues. Once you identify an object to change, go to the same layer and redesign.
Creating seamless repeating patterns is so much fun, once you figure out how to do it, you start seeing everything in patterns.
Step 5: Time to Color Your Pattern
Start coloring your pattern. In this one, I’ve used Dry Ink brush to color the initial layer. Then on a separate clipping mask layer, I’ve painted the lights and shadows to give more depth to the objects.
Step 6: Finalizing Your Pattern
Step 7: Exporting Your Pattern
Once your pattern looks seamless, it’s time to export it:
- Go to Actions Menu: Tap the wrench icon, select Share, and choose PNG for a high-quality file or any other format.
- Save and Share: Save the file to your device or share it directly from Procreate.
Creating seamless patterns in Procreate is a skill that can greatly enhance your digital artwork portfolio. With this step-by-step guide, you’ll be able to craft beautiful, repeatable designs that are perfect for a variety of uses. Happy creating!
Let us know if you would like to read more tutorials like this in detail! We will happy to create them for you! 🙂
Can I use other shapes for seamless pattern templates?
Do I need an Apple Pencil to create patterns in Procreate?
Can I use my patterns for commercial purposes?
