Seamless Studio Design Tutorial: Nine West Contest Feature

By Molly Bermea // June 18, 2011

With the release of Seamless Studio BETA, there have been some fantastic creations submitted. We're pretty excited to see designs become more and more intriguing with the new features this enhancement of the original seamless pattern maker allows.

An opportunity popped up for us to showcase how you can use Seamless Studio as an amazing design tool for things outside of COLOURlovers.com. I'll be using a real-world design contest for some Nine West totes - hosted by talenthouse.

The idea is pretty basic, which is perfect for this tutorial. We are going to apply a pattern from Seamless Studio (BETA) to the Nine West Tote Template PDF.

You will need:

Latest Release of Seamless Studio (BETA)
Photoshop (I'm using CS5)
Nine West PDF Tote Template - Downloadable Files: 9W Tote Template (PDF)

Make sure you read the contest Guidelines - the design should reflect a theme of 'Spring Summer'.

STEP 1:

From Seamless Studio, export your pattern as a JPG or PNG.

STEP 2:

Open the exported file in Photoshop.
Make it a Pattern (Edit > Define Pattern...)

STEP: 3

Now let's apply this to the template file. Open the PDF you downloaded if it isn't open already. Here's where you can get completely technical or keep it simple. I like simple.

I chose to simply use the Wand Tool, make selections of each area I wanted different, and use the Paint Bucket to drop in my pattern or color on to a NEW LAYER for each section.

Voila! My finished product ready to save as a JPG and upload to the contest.

Pattern size Tip

Your Seamless Studio canvas will default at 200 x 200 pixels, which allows you to upload to COLOURlovers.com. You have the capability of changing the size to suite your needs on a project like this.

For example, I didn't like how small the pattern was when I originally used it at the 200 x 200 size, so I enlarged my canvas to 600 x 600 - which then meant I needed to enlarge the graphic I originally laid out.

Here are three swatches on one tote to compare sizes between: 200x200, 600x600 and 1,000x1,000:

UPDATE:

I've put together an additional video tutorial that basically goes over these steps with a little more detail on using Photoshop (Wand Tool and Layers). Excuse my rambling. :D

Seamless Studio Deisgn Tutorial: Pattern in PS

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Team

Written by Molly Bermea

raggbaby.comHi! I'm the COLOURlovers Community Curator.

I come from a family with five imaginative kids. My mom instilled creativity to the max and you can usually find us scheming together, figuring out new ways to sew, craft or build DIY projects. The core of my artistic bone is in the art of painting.

I am a house-work-wife, I have an amazingly supportive husband, two genius kids and I might also work in a button factory

32 Comments

Showing 1 - 30 of 32 Comments

American Women

Posted Jun 18, 2011

oohhh love it Fashion Plates!!!!

American Women

Posted Jun 18, 2011

okay downloading a trial version of Photoshop CS5! Yikes!

American Women

Posted Jun 19, 2011

ok heres my first try! I'm a beginner so be nice! :)Summer of love

American Women

Posted Jun 19, 2011

I couldn't figure out how to fill in the rest! :)
American Women wrote:

ok heres my first try! I'm a beginner so be nice! :)Summer of love

anonymuse

Posted Jun 19, 2011

Thanks for sharing

Faeleia

Posted Jun 19, 2011

Omg! ninewest bag!

Team

mollybermea

Posted Jun 19, 2011

ANY version of Photoshop should work for this. Even Elements.
I'll try to provide a quick-tip on working with layers and the selection wand.

American Women wrote:

okay downloading a trial version of Photoshop CS5! Yikes!

American Women

Posted Jun 19, 2011

yay that would be awesome! :)
mollybermea wrote:

ANY version of Photoshop should work for this. Even Elements.
I'll try to provide a quick-tip on working with layers and the selection wand.

American Women wrote:

okay downloading a trial version of Photoshop CS5! Yikes!

ycc2106

Posted Jun 20, 2011

OH!! I'll have to announce this on the Seamless beta anything page

and I think I steal you banner to put there .. May I? ^^'

Great tutorial Molly! =)

Team

mollybermea

Posted Jun 20, 2011

FEEL FREE to use anything I designed for the site/blog etc. in community resources ycc! thanks for asking. :)

ycc2106 wrote:

OH!! I'll have to announce this on the Seamless beta anything page

and I think I steal you banner to put there .. May I? ^^'

Great tutorial Molly! =)

Team

mollybermea

Posted Jun 20, 2011

I put together this resource video - forgive my rambling, but if you really want to see the process in photoshop I put together this video for you and anyone else.
View the tutorial of this blog post as a video

American Women wrote:

I couldn't figure out how to fill in the rest! :)
American Women wrote:

ok heres my first try! I'm a beginner so be nice! :)Summer of love

American Women

Posted Jun 20, 2011

Thanks Molly that was sooo helpful for someone like me who learns visually! :)
You give great tutorials! :)

mollybermea wrote:

I put together this resource video - forgive my rambling, but if you really want to see the process in photoshop I put together this video for you and anyone else.
View the tutorial of this blog post as a video

American Women wrote:

I couldn't figure out how to fill in the rest! :)
American Women wrote:

ok heres my first try! I'm a beginner so be nice! :)Summer of love

Team

mollybermea

Posted Jun 20, 2011

I'm so glad that was helpful! :) I didn't have the time to edit it to cut out most of my rambling parts. LOL so was hoping it'd still be okay.

I am an artist, I learn visually too! I completely understand. :) Your bag/pattern was great btw. can't wait to see the entire thing colored.

American Women wrote:

Thanks Molly that was sooo helpful for someone like me who learns visually! :)
You give great tutorials! :)

mollybermea wrote:

I put together this resource video - forgive my rambling, but if you really want to see the process in photoshop I put together this video for you and anyone else.
View the tutorial of this blog post as a video

American Women wrote:

I couldn't figure out how to fill in the rest! :)
American Women wrote:

ok heres my first try! I'm a beginner so be nice! :)Summer of love

American Women

Posted Jun 20, 2011

The Rambling was good! I like things in real time! :) Thanks for the support!
mollybermea wrote:

I'm so glad that was helpful! :) I didn't have the time to edit it to cut out most of my rambling parts. LOL so was hoping it'd still be okay.

I am an artist, I learn visually too! I completely understand. :) Your bag/pattern was great btw. can't wait to see the entire thing colored.

American Women wrote:

Thanks Molly that was sooo helpful for someone like me who learns visually! :)
You give great tutorials! :)

mollybermea wrote:

I put together this resource video - forgive my rambling, but if you really want to see the process in photoshop I put together this video for you and anyone else.
View the tutorial of this blog post as a video

American Women wrote:

I couldn't figure out how to fill in the rest! :)
American Women wrote:

ok heres my first try! I'm a beginner so be nice! :)Summer of love

Angy Rangel

Posted Jun 20, 2011

this effect works also perfect with repeating patterns ... photo textures work perfectly.

Angy Rangel

American Women

Posted Jun 22, 2011

OMG that was so HARD! lol

Well it's not perfect but the best OI can do for now! Summer of Love / Nine West Contest

mollybermea wrote:

I'm so glad that was helpful! :) I didn't have the time to edit it to cut out most of my rambling parts. LOL so was hoping it'd still be okay.

I am an artist, I learn visually too! I completely understand. :) Your bag/pattern was great btw. can't wait to see the entire thing colored.

American Women wrote:

Thanks Molly that was sooo helpful for someone like me who learns visually! :)
You give great tutorials! :)

mollybermea wrote:

I put together this resource video - forgive my rambling, but if you really want to see the process in photoshop I put together this video for you and anyone else.
View the tutorial of this blog post as a video

American Women wrote:

I couldn't figure out how to fill in the rest! :)
American Women wrote:

ok heres my first try! I'm a beginner so be nice! :)Summer of love

American Women

Posted Jun 22, 2011

Here is the link to my actual submission page! :)Summer of Love

anonymuse

Posted Jun 22, 2011

Here is mine:

You can support me by voting here
Thank You :)

American Women

Posted Jun 22, 2011

Love it! I can see it with a matching umbrella! :)

anonymuse wrote:

Here is mine:

Team

mollybermea

Posted Jun 23, 2011

@American Women and @anonymuse! :) I voted. Great submissions!

nighthawk327

Posted Jun 23, 2011

My submission was not done with Seamless Studio (if I'd had more time I would have loved to make a great pattern ;)), but it was definitely inspired by my color work in this great community! If you would like to vote for me I would appreciate it greatly. :)

Vote for me here:

Team

mollybermea

Posted Jun 23, 2011

EXTRAORDINARILY FABULOUS JOB STILL!! Thanks for taking the time to share! :D will definitely place a vote!

nighthawk327 wrote:

My submission was not done with Seamless Studio (if I'd had more time I would have loved to make a great pattern ;)), but it was definitely inspired by my color work in this great community! If you would like to vote for me I would appreciate it greatly. :)

Vote for me here:

nighthawk327

Posted Jun 23, 2011

Thank you Molly!! :)

synthetic innocence

Posted Jun 23, 2011

Where is the bag dl?

ketisse

Posted Jun 29, 2011

I wish I had the skills to create something for this contest. I will vote and then go to my nearby 9 West store to see the winner.

ycc2106

Posted Jun 29, 2011

I just went (again) Voting is now closed

Submission Deadline: June 22, 2011
Voting Starts: June 23, 2011
Voting Ends: June 28, 2011
Winner Announcement: July 1, 2011

Great! I would have voted if I had seem this.. sorry =(
nighthawk327 wrote:

My submission was not done with Seamless Studio (if I'd had more time I would have loved to make a great pattern ;)), but it was definitely inspired by my color work in this great community! If you would like to vote for me I would appreciate it greatly. :)

Vote for me here:

ycc2106

Posted Jun 29, 2011

Not sure about this - I don't see any upload button - maybe you have to log in?
Here's an other bag design contest: Front Row Society

How to design and submit a pattern
1) Download this drawing of our bag
2) Read our creative brief
3) Design your pattern in the creative suite of your choice
4) Upload your pattern and wait for the voting to begin (I don't see any upload button - maybe you have to log in?)

The prize money for the winning design is EUR 1500. Your design and your name will also be on Front Row Society bags.

Team

mollybermea

Posted Jun 29, 2011

APOLOGIES! yes the contest is closed.

This post was meant to focus more on the concept of using Seamless Studio in a real-world example... I apologize, next time I will post the dates in the post.

I had even forgotten to submit my own! :(

Team

mollybermea

Posted Jun 29, 2011

LOL I had thought you said, "here's another BAD design contest...." and just realized after three minutes that you meant BAG contest. ;) Thanks that was sweet of you to post another contest.

We'll be throwing our own contests here as well using similar design concepts. :) stay tuned! m.

ycc2106 wrote:

Not sure about this - I don't see any upload button - maybe you have to log in?
Here's an other bad design contest: Front Row Society

How to design and submit a pattern
1) Download this drawing of our bag
2) Read our creative brief
3) Design your pattern in the creative suite of your choice
4) Upload your pattern and wait for the voting to begin (I don't see any upload button - maybe you have to log in?)

The prize money for the winning design is EUR 1500. Your design and your name will also be on Front Row Society bags.

See also: Up coming Spoonflower contests

ycc2106

Posted Jun 29, 2011

mollybermea wrote:

LOL I had thought you said, "here's another BAD design contest...." and just realized after three minutes that you meant BAG contest. ;) Thanks that was sweet of you to post another contest.

LOL! SORRY!
xD

PS: If I find any other pattern contest - I'll post about it here

«1 2 »

You will need:

STEP 1:

STEP 2:

STEP: 3

Pattern size Tip

UPDATE:

Written by Molly Bermea

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Submission Deadline: June 22, 2011 Voting Starts: June 23, 2011 Voting Ends: June 28, 2011 Winner Announcement: July 1, 2011

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Submission Deadline: June 22, 2011
Voting Starts: June 23, 2011
Voting Ends: June 28, 2011
Winner Announcement: July 1, 2011