We have devised
this method but with
acknowledgements to Tony Worobiec and Ray Spence from
their new book Digital Photo Artist ISBN 1-84340-148-7.
The idea of this technique is to make an image that is more or less
random in construction but
nevertheless controllable. The results are dependent on the
original image or images from which
you make your pattern/s.
Probably the best sort of image to use is something that has soft edges
so that the patterns made
meld easily together. Leaves and flowers have been our choice to
date but we are sure that you can
find others.
| 1 | Open either Photoshop or Photoshop Elements |
| 2 | Open a picture that is A5 size or thereabouts. |
| 3 | Make a duplicate layer by dragging the Background layer to the new layer icon at the bottom of the layer palette. |
| 4 | Discard the Background layer. This is so that the selection will end up on a transparent layer. |
| 5 | Select a part of the image. |
| 6 | Invert the selection if required using Shift + Ctrl + I. |
| 7 | Feather the Selection quite a lot [e.g. 60 px] |
| 8 | Go to Edit > Cut or Ctrl + X. This will cut out your selection on to a transparent background. |
| 9 | Go to Edit > Define Pattern. Press OK to accept the name given.  |
| 10 | Now you can shut down the original picture without saving it. |
| 11 | Get a new A4 sheet on a Transparent background at 200 ppi.. |
| 12 | Use Pattern Tool (beneath the Stamp Clone tool - from the Tool Options
pick the Pattern Tool). Ensure that Aligned is NOT ticked. [Note there used to be an Unaligned box if you have the old Tutorial] |
| 13 | Click the Box here and you should find the Image just Defined along with other patterns. |
| 14 | A Background can be made by using the Impressionist and Behind Mode. Now you can paint a random and very soft image over the picture space.  |
| 15 | Change to Normal Mode and Untick Impressionist. |
| 16 | Now with a large brush (say 800 pixels) paint over the image space. Do this in short bursts. Since Aligned is NOT selected each time you use the Pattern Tool it starts in a different place almost at random |
| 17 | Try different Blending Modes at different places. This can ensure variety within your image. Try altering the brush size too from time to time. |
| 18 | You can save your pattern twice. Once the normal way and the second with the image reversed. This will add variety to the final result. You can also use Rotate by a Custom amount [say 27 deg]. Then paint in the Pattern again. When done Rotate back and then Crop back to the original size. DO NOT be tempted to use the Free Rotate Layer or you will crop bits off. Why not make a pattern from part of this image? With a lasso selection and feathering of say 100 this can make super pictures. |
Examples using this technique.
