This enables repeating patterns to be created from one artwork, defining its attributes from the ‘Textile Step and Repeat’ window from Layout.
Once the image has been selected and the media attributes defined as normal the options can then be activated.
There are three areas to aid manipulation:
- File Size: Defining the image and ‘sheet’ size
- Offset and drops: Allows a start point to be created and type of layout with Drop options
- Colorways: Manages special color handling definitions
Fill size
This is used to define the dimensions of the ‘sheet’ or ‘drop’ size, the amount of repeats in the horizontal and vertical axis’ and if a gutter is required by setting its size. Written in three columns, with the horizontal and then vertical below.
The option needs to be selected between the ‘Fill Area’ or ‘Repeats’ as one overrides the other. The third column is the gutter, which can be define space between the repeats.
Offset and drop
Offset
Taking the top left of the image as the datum, an offset can be defined by entering the size required, this changes the starting point of the image, as demonstrated below:
This shows no offset to the image:
Set to 50mm the image is placed starting 50mm from the top left:
Repeat type
There are nine in total, activated by clicking the icon required and creating the different pattern repeat options, pictorially displayed within the icon button:
Each pattern is shown with the preview from Layout as an example:
Drop% and Drop size
This defines the offset of the alternating rows or columns (depending on the Repeat type) relatively to the previous ones (half-drop or partial-drop).
One overrides the other, depending on the selected preference.
- fraction (percentage) of the size of the original part
- distance (drop size).
Colorways
This enables named colors to be re-assigned to another without having to go back to the original artwork to change. If a pattern needs to be printed using different hues, then these can be changed, saved and imported elsewhere. Which is the same principle as using colorways from Editor.
There are options to Save/Export and Import from a file, using the ‘Disc’ and ‘Folder’ Icon respectively.