illustrator patterns question...
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- barbtastic
so, you know how when you have a pattern fill applied to an object, and if you move that object around the page, the pattern fill sort of sticks to the artboard and not with the object?
is there a way to "lock" the pattern fill inside the object exactly in the place you want it, regardless of where is moves on the artboard?
PS - i tried dragging a pattern swatch out of the swatch palette onto the artboard and then used a clipping mask to place the swatch inside, but that is a little tedious and annoying if the swatch is one little corner of the pattern, defeating the purpose of the pattern function alogether.
- GreedoLives0
expand the object, it'll create outlines of everything, including the pattern. sometimes makes masked objects tho that you'd have to clean up a bit if you're going to the printers with it.
- horton0
preferences/ general..
check "transform pattern tiles"
then if you want to transform just the pattern tile within the object you can isolate by holding the tilde (~).
- session0
I have another question about patterns...I make a mask over a pattern and then drag it into the swatch pallette. When I try using it as a swatch the area outside of the mask shows up as white when I use it. Is theyre away around this as well......
- barbtastic0
thanks, you guys. both of those suggestions are working out for me! couldn't think of what to type into google, therefore, you are lifesavers...
- welded0
To session's question, yup there is and it's stupid easy. Illogically easy, in fact. The trick is that instead of masking your pattern just drop a no stroke/fill rectangle behind (or above, I forget) everything and then drag it all into the swatches pallete. Your pattern will magically crop to the size of the rectangle without breaking the art within. This works for CS2 so your milage may vary.
- horton0
yeah; an empty box to define the tile *behind* the artwork. no masks required.