Patterns

In Illustrator we have three ways to fill an object.
The first two we have seen, the color and a color gradient.

A third way is a “pattern”.

Illustrator comes with a range of patterns, which we find under the “Swatch libraries Menu” of the “Swatches” panel.

To provide a pattern for an object, click the “Swatch Libraries Menu” in “Swatches” panel.
Choose your “Patterns” in the drop-down menu and click a category or subcategory.
In the pane for the category, click the pattern you want to use.

To change the structure of a pattern used, double click “Scale” button (1) in the toolbar.
In the dialog that appears, change the structure uniformly or non-uniformly.
Please note that the checkbox “Patterns” (2) is selected.
Click the OK button when you’re done.

If you first wish to see an example before you confirm the change, select the checkbox labeled “Preview” (A).

 

Change Pattern

However, if you wish to change the pattern itself, such as the color, you must first fill the “expand”.

For this, first select the object where the pattern is applied.
Click the “Object” button in the menu bar and select “Expand” in the drop-down menu.
In the dialog that appears, choose “Fill” (1) and click the OK button.

At first sight it seems as if nothing happened.
But, if we zoom in on the object and the choose the “Direct Selection” tool (2) in the toolbar, we can select any object of this pattern (3).
And if we can select with the “Direct Selection” tool, we can change the shape and color.
How to do that, you must know by now.

At last, my tablecloth now has a blue flower.

 

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