Thank you for posting this! You saved me going crazy trying to get a file ready for upload and not understanding why it kept getting rejected. Super helpful!
Thank you, this was exactly what I was looking for, I have been using a script to crop my tiles but it made it impossible to separate the elements into layers afterwards, which is what I need, this method is perfect for that.
Hi thank you so much for the informative video! I have a question. If we want to save the pattern in eps file for microstock, should we add the pattern tiles from the artboard to the swatches as a pattern? Thank you
Hello, when I make a seamless pattern and save it illustrator 10 for shutterstock, when i repoen the eps file, the saved pattern is not coming on swatch panel. what should i do?
Hello Cristina, thank you for the wonderful and very easy to understand tutorials!! I have one small question in regards to this here video. When we save the files, I thought we needed to tick/select, 'Use Artboards'. Is this not necessary then? Many many thanks for your generous work here. xox
Hi Adriana! I usually don't use it because I crop the pattern to the size I want and save it like it is. With Use Artboards, you will only save what's on your artboard. But if your pattern is not perfectly aligned to the artboard, you might delete parts of it. It's useful in certain cases, like if you use clipping masks instead of cropping the pattern.
No, it's not required for Spoonflower. You just need to upload a JPEG. The pattern swatch is useful if you want to sell patterns on Creative Market or for commissions.
This is the most helpful explanation I’ve found….except illustrator won’t let me paste my background in front to crop my pattern….i was taught to work in groups so I don’t understand layers too much… I see in my layers that I have 5 rectangles which I don’t know if that’s normal. I’m at my wits end and have to send in my pattern to a fabric company…my first if you couldn’t tell! I’ve been on the phone with adobe for hours and they can’t seem to help, all the digging online has brought me to your video and I thought it was going to work but I’m hitting a roadblock 😭if anyone out there can help I would appreciate it so much!!!!
Thank you so much!! Can you make a tutorial of the way of publishing the pattern, from the saving to upload it to the website. I tried to sell a swatch pattern file, but it doesn't appear after it downloaded and opened on illustrator..
You're welcome! I might make a tutorial soon. Where did you want to publish it? When you save patterns from the Swatches panel, it will save the pattern swatches, but not the patterns or graphics that you have on your artboard. So when you open them, the artboard is empty and the patterns are in the Swatches panel. You should save the patterns and swatches as normal AI or EPS files. Hope this makes sense :-)
Elan Creative Co, well, where you recommend to publish my patterns, I'd like to know your opinion. I'd saved it as a swatch .ai file (the other type didn't allowed me). I published on Etsy, and asked a friend to buy it, she couldn't open the file on her computer (she has CS6, I have cc). And also to open it from "other library" in the swatches panel.. So what I want to know is what type of "pattern saving" is most reliable?
Etsy is a great place to start. I love Creative Market, but you need to go through a review process, so you need a larger portfolio. If you want to sell on Etsy, seamless JPEGs and PNGs are perfect. Most people that buy from Etsy are not looking for vectors. I also save my patterns as EPS10 files and AI swatches. I have another tutorial about using AI swatches, but I don't remember if it also covers saving patterns: th-cam.com/video/Nq9XHHcYAHI/w-d-xo.html
Hola Cristy! Me encantan tus videos me han ayudado mucho!, tengo una duda, como puedo hacer para que al rellenar un cuadro con el pattern los cuatro lados coicidan, es decir como lo que haces en el min 13:09 pero que coincidan los 4 lados para que la impresion en rollo sea continua?
Hi Lilian! I'm writing this in English because my Spanish is not very good 😊 Just make an artboard that's twice the size of your pattern tile, create 4 copies of the pattern, and use them to fill the artboard without leaving any space between them. I usually make an artboard that's 12 x 12 in (my pattern tiles are 6 x 6 in). I then fill it with the 4 tiles and use the Align tool to make sure they are perfectly aligned. If I make patterns with the Pattern tool, I just fill the artboard with a rectangle that's 12 x 12 in. The resulting pattern will be seamless. Hope this makes sense 😀
Hi! Does this method only work with grid patterns? I'm wondering if not using a grid pattern is what is causing my attempts at this to fail. I'm also running into issues with the Crop tool where elements within my pattern are cropping to each other as well (shapes in my pattern are getting sliced up where their elements overlap). Any advice?
Hello! I use cropping mask to finish my patterns, and then I use the pattern tool to adjust the size of the main repeating square to match the artboard. So in the swatches panel, the pattern looks perfect even though I used the mask. Is that acceptable on microstock websites? Thank you!
That should work. I also used clipping masks for the ones I uploaded on microstock websites. They usually have detail instructions of what you can and cannot do.
Hello, I have a question...I tried cropping patterns with the Crop tool, as you teach in this tutorial, and it works well, but it completely messes the background (usually a one solid color square) if I decide to ungroup the cropped pattern (the background stops being one same object and it becomes several fragmented objetcs). So I tried a different way (the magic eraser, that´s very popular among designers, and promoted by popular pattern designers like Oksancia). The magic eraser doesn´t mess with the backgrounds, when I ungroup the cropped pattern, but when I upload the pattern to the swatch pannel and then use it, it shows a thin white line (the infamous illustrator bug, even though the pattern is correctly designed). So it seems like each way (the crop tool or the magic eraser) has an advantage and disadvantage. Personally, I prefer to not see the Illustrator bug in the swatches but I´m not sure if messing with the background is something that pattern buyers may resent. And that´s my question: Is there any problem for the buyers when they have to use a cropped pattern with a fragmented background (even though is properly grouped)? Sorry for my bad english and I hope you can understand my concern.
Don't worry about your English. It's very good! I'm not a fan of the magic eraser method, I think it makes everything more complicated than it needs to be. I only use the methods that I showed on this channel and I like to use the pattern tool any time I can. I never had any complaints about the cropped background in all my years as a pattern designer. It's also something that's required on microstock websites. Honestly, I prefer it this way because it's harder for people to take the motifs and use them for other patterns or just mess with the design. They can just scale and recolor the patterns and that's how I want it to be. I usually keep the source files, unless otherwise required.
@@bycristinasilvia Thank you for your answer. Do You sell to all kind of clients or just online platforms like Shutterstock, Spoonflower and Creative Market?
@@juanitaonthego7745 I only sell on online platforms. I used to do a lot of custom designs, but I took a break and I'm not sure if I want to go back to that. Right now I'm focusing on my portfolio.
Hello, I´m confused about the different file formats. Can you use a pattern tile in jpg the same way that a pattern swatch in ai? I ask this because I see that in Etsy the most common way to sell digital paper is in jpg (usually in a 12" x 12" size) instead of a vector format. Why is that? Can you actually fill a large surface (such as rolls of fabric) using a jpg pattern tile in repeat? it seems like it would be a lot of work to assemble while you can do it in seconds with a vector pattern swatch...that´s why I don´t get it. Sorry for my English, is not good.
AI pattern swatches are only compatible with Adobe Illustrator, while JPEGs can be used with any design software and that's why they are more popular. The problem with JPEGs is that you can't enlarge or edit the pattern. You can also use JPEGs to print on fabrics because you only need the basic pattern tile. You don't need to make a pattern that's as large as the fabric.
Hi! I'm about to submit some patterns to shutterstock but I see that the crop tool or another method I use with pathfinder panel mess up the order of the layer (convert groups in many paths). Do you know If Shutterstock can reject the file for this reason? I know some people use script or plugins for this matter but I don´t know how well they work. Hope you can help me, thanks!!
Hi, Lara! I don't think they will reject your files for that reason. This is the method I use to save patterns for Shutterstock, and I never had any problems. If they do reject them, you can fix the files and resubmit them. I know about the scripts, but I don't see the point of using them when Illustrator already has all the tools you need.
Handy tips. Whenever I need I turn back here and find what I need. Thx.
Thank you for posting this! You saved me going crazy trying to get a file ready for upload and not understanding why it kept getting rejected. Super helpful!
Thank you, this was exactly what I was looking for, I have been using a script to crop my tiles but it made it impossible to separate the elements into layers afterwards, which is what I need, this method is perfect for that.
Thanks for these tips.❤ I wonder if I can export my Photoshop patterns into Illustrator? Please advise. Thank you.
Thank you very much for sharing this! And btw I love your patterns also!
Thank you! 😊
This was SO helpful, thank you!
Good narration and useful information... Thx a lot.
Excellent tutorial. Thank you.
Hi. Thank you for this very useful video. A question. How we can save the pattern which createdi in pattern maker for selling as jpg etc..
Hi thank you so much for the informative video! I have a question. If we want to save the pattern in eps file for microstock, should we add the pattern tiles from the artboard to the swatches as a pattern? Thank you
No, I don't think you need to add it. You should check the rules of the site you want to upload your designs to.
@@bycristinasilvia Thank you!
Thank you so much. This is very helpful video. & voice is so cute & clear.
this video is amazing!!!
Hello, when I make a seamless pattern and save it illustrator 10 for shutterstock, when i repoen the eps file, the saved pattern is not coming on swatch panel.
what should i do?
Hello! I want to ask something. If you make a pattern for Adobe stock, what color scheme to use RGB or CMYG?
Hello Cristina, thank you for the wonderful and very easy to understand tutorials!! I have one small question in regards to this here video. When we save the files, I thought we needed to tick/select, 'Use Artboards'. Is this not necessary then? Many many thanks for your generous work here. xox
Hi Adriana! I usually don't use it because I crop the pattern to the size I want and save it like it is. With Use Artboards, you will only save what's on your artboard. But if your pattern is not perfectly aligned to the artboard, you might delete parts of it. It's useful in certain cases, like if you use clipping masks instead of cropping the pattern.
Thank you for the information, Christina!! I like to understand the why of each individual choice designers make! Thanks a bunch , you rock!
your voice is so so so so sweet...Actually, I in love with your voice❤❤❤
Very useful! Thank you!
9:00 pattern swatch save in illustrator ,is this required before submit in spoonflower ?
No, it's not required for Spoonflower. You just need to upload a JPEG. The pattern swatch is useful if you want to sell patterns on Creative Market or for commissions.
Can you please make a video on this pattern that you have saved.
This is the most helpful explanation I’ve found….except illustrator won’t let me paste my background in front to crop my pattern….i was taught to work in groups so I don’t understand layers too much… I see in my layers that I have 5 rectangles which I don’t know if that’s normal. I’m at my wits end and have to send in my pattern to a fabric company…my first if you couldn’t tell! I’ve been on the phone with adobe for hours and they can’t seem to help, all the digging online has brought me to your video and I thought it was going to work but I’m hitting a roadblock 😭if anyone out there can help I would appreciate it so much!!!!
Thank you so much!!
Can you make a tutorial of the way of publishing the pattern, from the saving to upload it to the website.
I tried to sell a swatch pattern file, but it doesn't appear after it downloaded and opened on illustrator..
You're welcome! I might make a tutorial soon. Where did you want to publish it? When you save patterns from the Swatches panel, it will save the pattern swatches, but not the patterns or graphics that you have on your artboard. So when you open them, the artboard is empty and the patterns are in the Swatches panel. You should save the patterns and swatches as normal AI or EPS files. Hope this makes sense :-)
Elan Creative Co, well, where you recommend to publish my patterns, I'd like to know your opinion. I'd saved it as a swatch .ai file (the other type didn't allowed me). I published on Etsy, and asked a friend to buy it, she couldn't open the file on her computer (she has CS6, I have cc). And also to open it from "other library" in the swatches panel.. So what I want to know is what type of "pattern saving" is most reliable?
Etsy is a great place to start. I love Creative Market, but you need to go through a review process, so you need a larger portfolio. If you want to sell on Etsy, seamless JPEGs and PNGs are perfect. Most people that buy from Etsy are not looking for vectors. I also save my patterns as EPS10 files and AI swatches. I have another tutorial about using AI swatches, but I don't remember if it also covers saving patterns: th-cam.com/video/Nq9XHHcYAHI/w-d-xo.html
Thank you so much 😃 ❤️. You make Great tutorials...
Thank you, Kristine!
Love your tutorial! Thank you so much!
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
I've a question....do you upload the seamless pattern tile or pattern on Shutterstock?
I save the pattern as EPS and JPEG for Shutterstock. They have guidelines on the website that help.
hi thank you for this video it s very helpfull .
can you make a video for how to save file for selling on freepik ....
Hola Cristy! Me encantan tus videos me han ayudado mucho!, tengo una duda, como puedo hacer para que al rellenar un cuadro con el pattern los cuatro lados coicidan, es decir como lo que haces en el min 13:09 pero que coincidan los 4 lados para que la impresion en rollo sea continua?
Hi Lilian! I'm writing this in English because my Spanish is not very good 😊 Just make an artboard that's twice the size of your pattern tile, create 4 copies of the pattern, and use them to fill the artboard without leaving any space between them. I usually make an artboard that's 12 x 12 in (my pattern tiles are 6 x 6 in). I then fill it with the 4 tiles and use the Align tool to make sure they are perfectly aligned. If I make patterns with the Pattern tool, I just fill the artboard with a rectangle that's 12 x 12 in. The resulting pattern will be seamless. Hope this makes sense 😀
Hi! Does this method only work with grid patterns? I'm wondering if not using a grid pattern is what is causing my attempts at this to fail. I'm also running into issues with the Crop tool where elements within my pattern are cropping to each other as well (shapes in my pattern are getting sliced up where their elements overlap). Any advice?
Thanks for sharing
What should I do when there is a white line when printing
Hi! Does this work for patterns that you want to have printed on fabric and clothing?
Hello! I use cropping mask to finish my patterns, and then I use the pattern tool to adjust the size of the main repeating square to match the artboard. So in the swatches panel, the pattern looks perfect even though I used the mask. Is that acceptable on microstock websites?
Thank you!
That should work. I also used clipping masks for the ones I uploaded on microstock websites. They usually have detail instructions of what you can and cannot do.
@@bycristinasilvia thanks, I'll try to contact Shutterstock
Just talked to the support, all patterns must be cropped 👍🏻
Thanks for letting me know!
Great video! Than you so much!
Thank you elan 💖💖💖💖💖💖
You're welcome!
Hello, I have a question...I tried cropping patterns with the Crop tool, as you teach in this tutorial, and it works well, but it completely messes the background (usually a one solid color square) if I decide to ungroup the cropped pattern (the background stops being one same object and it becomes several fragmented objetcs). So I tried a different way (the magic eraser, that´s very popular among designers, and promoted by popular pattern designers like Oksancia). The magic eraser doesn´t mess with the backgrounds, when I ungroup the cropped pattern, but when I upload the pattern to the swatch pannel and then use it, it shows a thin white line (the infamous illustrator bug, even though the pattern is correctly designed). So it seems like each way (the crop tool or the magic eraser) has an advantage and disadvantage. Personally, I prefer to not see the Illustrator bug in the swatches but I´m not sure if messing with the background is something that pattern buyers may resent. And that´s my question: Is there any problem for the buyers when they have to use a cropped pattern with a fragmented background (even though is properly grouped)?
Sorry for my bad english and I hope you can understand my concern.
Don't worry about your English. It's very good! I'm not a fan of the magic eraser method, I think it makes everything more complicated than it needs to be. I only use the methods that I showed on this channel and I like to use the pattern tool any time I can. I never had any complaints about the cropped background in all my years as a pattern designer. It's also something that's required on microstock websites. Honestly, I prefer it this way because it's harder for people to take the motifs and use them for other patterns or just mess with the design. They can just scale and recolor the patterns and that's how I want it to be. I usually keep the source files, unless otherwise required.
@@bycristinasilvia Thank you for your answer. Do You sell to all kind of clients or just online platforms like Shutterstock, Spoonflower and Creative Market?
@@juanitaonthego7745 I only sell on online platforms. I used to do a lot of custom designs, but I took a break and I'm not sure if I want to go back to that. Right now I'm focusing on my portfolio.
Thank you so much for this video!! :)
You're welcome :-)
Very helpful!! Thanks a lot :)
You're welcome 😀
Hello, I´m confused about the different file formats. Can you use a pattern tile in jpg the same way that a pattern swatch in ai? I ask this because I see that in Etsy the most common way to sell digital paper is in jpg (usually in a 12" x 12" size) instead of a vector format. Why is that? Can you actually fill a large surface (such as rolls of fabric) using a jpg pattern tile in repeat? it seems like it would be a lot of work to assemble while you can do it in seconds with a vector pattern swatch...that´s why I don´t get it.
Sorry for my English, is not good.
AI pattern swatches are only compatible with Adobe Illustrator, while JPEGs can be used with any design software and that's why they are more popular. The problem with JPEGs is that you can't enlarge or edit the pattern. You can also use JPEGs to print on fabrics because you only need the basic pattern tile. You don't need to make a pattern that's as large as the fabric.
Hi! I'm about to submit some patterns to shutterstock but I see that the crop tool or another method I use with pathfinder panel mess up the order of the layer (convert groups in many paths). Do you know If Shutterstock can reject the file for this reason? I know some people use script or plugins for this matter but I don´t know how well they work.
Hope you can help me, thanks!!
Hi, Lara! I don't think they will reject your files for that reason. This is the method I use to save patterns for Shutterstock, and I never had any problems. If they do reject them, you can fix the files and resubmit them. I know about the scripts, but I don't see the point of using them when Illustrator already has all the tools you need.
thanks for answer so fast! This issue was driving me crazy haha. Nice youtube channel btw! I find it just on time ; )
Thanks for subscribing! Good luck with Shutterstock :-)
thanks for this tutorial
You're welcome 😊
please!