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Creating a pattern brush


    To create a pattern brush, you can use pattern swatches in the Swatches palette or artwork from an illustration to define the tiles in the brush. When using swatches to define a pattern brush, you can use preloaded pattern swatches, or create your own Pattern swatches.

    You can change the size, spacing, and orientation of pattern brushes. In addition, you can apply new artwork to any of the tiles in a pattern brush to redefine the brush.

    To apply new art to tiles in existing pattern brushes, you select pattern swatches from the scroll list in the Pattern Brush Options dialog box. (The scroll list displays all the Pattern swatches available in the Swatches palette.)

To create a pattern brush using pattern swatches in the Swatches palette:

  1. Click the New Brush button  the New Symbol button in the Brushes palette, or choose New Brush from the palette menu. Select New Pattern Brush and click OK.
  2. In the Name text box, enter a name for the brush (up to 30 characters).
  3. Click a tile button for the tile you want to define. For example, to define the side tile, click the Side tile button  the Side tile button .
  4. Illustration of components of a tile with these callouts: A. Side tile B. Outer Corner tile C. Inner Corner tile D. Start tile E. End tile
    Components of a tile A. Side tile B. Outer Corner tile C. Inner Corner tile D. Start tile E. End tile
  5. In the scroll list, select a Pattern swatch to apply to the selected tile.
  6. The selected swatch appears in the selected tile button.

    Note: To restore a pattern setting to its original value when modifying an existing Pattern brush, select Original from the scroll list.

  7. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to apply Pattern swatches to other tiles as needed.
  8. For Size, enter values for the scale (which preserves the proportion) and the spacing between tiles.
  9. To change the orientation of the pattern on the path, choose Flip Along or Flip Across.
  10. For Fit, choose how to fit the tiles on the path:
    • Stretch to Fit lengthens or shortens the pattern tile to fit the object. This option can result in uneven tiling.
    • Add Space to Fit adds blank space between each pattern tile to apply the pattern proportionally to the path.
    • Approximate Path (for rectangular paths only) fits tiles to the closest approximate path without changing the tiles. This option applies the pattern slightly inside or outside the path, rather than centered on the path, to maintain even tiling.
    Illustration of results of different tile option settings with these callouts: A. Default tile and Fit options B. Stretch to Fit C. Add Space to Fit D. Approximate Path
    Results of different tile option settings A. Default tile and Fit options B. Stretch to Fit C. Add Space to Fit D. Approximate Path
  11. Choose a method of colorization from the Method pop-up menu. (See Choosing a colorization method.)
  12. Click OK.
  13. Note: After you define a Pattern brush with Pattern swatches, you can delete the Pattern swatches from the Swatches palette if you don't plan to use them for additional artwork.

To create a pattern brush using artwork from an illustration:

  1. Create or display the artwork that you want to use as a Pattern brush. (See Creating and working with patterns.) Make sure to create artwork for each of the tiles in the Pattern brush, up to five tiles depending on the brush configuration desired.
  2. In the Brushes palette, make sure the brushes are displayed by icon. (If necessary, choose Thumbnail View from the palette menu.)
  3. Drag the artwork to be used as the side tile onto the Brushes palette.
  4. Select New Pattern Brush, and then click OK.
  5. In the Name text box, enter a name for the brush (up to 30 characters), and then click OK.
  6. Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) artwork for additional tiles onto the appropriate section of the entry for the brush in the Brushes palette, and then click OK after adding each tile. The side tile already appears in the second section. Alt-drag or Option-drag artwork for the outer corner tile to the first section. Alt-drag or Option-drag artwork for the inner corner tile, start tile, and end tile to the remaining sections.