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Created Jul 1, 2010
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CL tutorials & Patterns templates by type
Keywords (for group search): tutorial, how to, how can, seamless, image, video, embed, pattern search, tip, trick, HTML, help, badge, where is, find, Tutorials, Beginner's guide
NB: Please do not submit stuff not related to this place - Your pattern templates - those you designed - are welcome - using the group checkbox (1 example is better for me!)
ycc2106
SEAMLESS BUGS & BASIC TIPS
ON THIS PAGE:
Interface
Noticed The Shape Menu?
Layers & Colors
How to resize & Rotate
How to Clone
See also: Seamless 2
>> BACK TO INDEX of TUTORIALS
Seamless is a vector editor like Abobe Illustrator, but in much simpler: the basics are the same.
Check out some basic "Illustrator how to video's" here to see how things are built/drawn.
To avoid some bugs:
- rename all layers with short names
- Avoid stretching the shapes very far out (eg, like ~3x the square pattern zone)
-Avoid bad/brusque movements (eg, selecting a big folder.. worse if by mistake and you quickly click elsewhere) This will crash seamless, and you probably won't notice anything until you click 'save'
Not 100% sure:
avoid too many folders (20-30??)
BUGS:
Not visible in the editor: Lines ending become squares, over lapping is required to fill the gaps.
Also resizing (or maybe changing the proportions of a multiple line selection) of lines don't seem to work (eg, making huge dashes) - this is only visible in the last preview
Duplicating several folders (at once) will result in folders in folders in folders...
Sometimes triangles become broken only in the last preview & "pattern colorizer "previews but not on the final pattern - just ignore it.
What else is there? See comments below
ADD DESCRIPTIVE TAGS TO MAKE YOUR PATTERN SEARCHABLE
ycc2106
The Interface
This is a screenshot of Seamless Studio, it has the file menu more than the web version
click to view in large
1) Editing area
2) Shape & Lines
3) Tabs to switch from shape/lines
4) Layers name, order and tools (delete, clone, flip...)
5) Layer Colours
6) Editing Tools : Pencil to draw, arrow to select
7) Undo & Re-do
8) Zoom (Does not resize shapes)
------- Only In Seamless Desktop ----
9) Preview Colours
10) Menus: File (open, import..), Edit (undo, copy, paste) , Layer (Same actions as the buttons above the layers), View (Zoom, Show Grid, Snap)
ycc2106
Noticed The Shapes Menu?
ycc2106
Pattern layers = colours
These define the different colours:
PS:
LAYERS = SHAPE
Each shape IS a layer - in the sidebar we say "layer " in the main section (editor/preview rectangle) we say "shape"
ycc2106
HOW TO RESIZE & ROTATE SHAPES
The slider at the top is a zoom, let's you see from a distance but it does not resize objects.
Seamless is like most vector editors, the basics are similar to illustrator:
Watch this video from 1:54
RESIZE:
ROTATE
It's exactly the same thing except you grab the other handle at the top (this only visible when the shape is selected)
ycc2106
HOW TO CLONE A SHAPE
1 ) Select the shapes you want to clone
2) When all the shapes you want are selected: Click on the clone button
>> Duplicated shapes will be exactly on top of the previous one so you won't see any difference. Try moving the shape you just duplicated, there should be an other underneath
>> Each copy makes the layer name longer (eg: A shape duplicated 4x gets a name like "Shape 1 (copy) (copy) (copy) (copy)" )
Seamless does not support long layer names. Rename layers by double clicking on the name
Selections can be done directly on the shape or by clicking on the side, on the layer name
Related:
If you crashed - take a screenshot to share your lost pattern here
>> Pattern Didn't Save
dss358
I still have one question, though. Can you tell this newbie more about using "group" and "clone"? When I click on clone or group, I see what happens with my shapes on the left side of the screen, under "Layers." But... I don't see the cloned or grouped shapes anywhere on the drawing area (sorry, I don't know what it's called).
ycc2106
Ah yes!! Cloning: Forgot to mention: it's exactly on top of the other one! So nothing seems to have changed ^^'
As for groups- it's only so you find you way around multiple layers - changes nothing to the pattern.
Like if you have 300 layers - it can be a hassle to find the one you want (If you make complex patterns - it can be hard to select in the editor) ... if you put them in folders (drag and drop the layers on the folder) the layer list in the sidebar will look shorter.
ycc2106
I hadn't set any notification for this group - now I have =)
Irradiance Cache
Bugs i found so far:
When cloning multiple folders the clone will have all folders inside each other.
That means cloning selected folders A, B & C will result in a folder C inside B inside A.
At creating more complex Patterns the Editor tends to slow down and freeze for 10-20 seconds. Usually you will be able to work normally after the delay. Renaming a folder doesn't work sometimes.
If you rename a shape or folder don't press backspace - it will delete it ;)
Folder hierarchy can go beyond a depth of 5 but the editor will show these folders on the same level when unfolding them ─ because there is no horizontal scrollbar ;)
Lol i came across a nasty bug: the transform tool didn't want to disappear. Every click inside the painting area created multiple new invisible shapes. In seconds i got about 100+. Unable to delete or paint anything ─ Only renaming layers while the layer moving tool was always visible. Somehow i could also move groups horizontally in the layer list. Funny bug but no chance to get back to normal :(
ycc2106
These are the kinds things you discover, remember to avoid - then forget to mention!
Thanks for this valuable input! - I think I'll link this page to the forum so PureForm can see these
ycc2106
It's not exactly the same but the concept is similar - I think if you understand this you can figure out the rest for Seamless
Vocabuary
LAYERS = SHAPE
Each shape IS a layer - in the sidebar we say "layer " in the main section (editor/preview rectangle) we say "shape"
GROUP = FOLDERS
This has no visual influence on the pattern - it's just to simplify things - makes more space and makes selecting multiple shape/layers easier
To group layers you can:
1) 1st click group (a folder will appear above the layers) and drag and drop the shapes you want into it
2) Select several layers and then click group will move those layers in to a new folder
CLONE = DUPLICATE
To clone:
Select a layer or a 'group'(folder) and click 'clone'
!! Note that they'll be exactly on top of the original shapes so you will not see any visual difference - try moving the shape you cloned, there should be an other one underneath
dss358
Gasp365
Cache already named the ones I had stumbled onto too!!! Can't hurt to copy paste and repeat each of them. In order to see what bugs show up most frequently
- When cloning multiple folders the clone will have all folders inside each other.
That means cloning selected folders A, B & C will result in a folder C inside B inside A.
- At creating more complex Patterns the Editor tends to slow down and freeze for 10-20 seconds.
- Renaming a folder doesn't work sometimes.
- Folder hierarchy can go beyond a depth of 5 but the editor will show these folders on the same level when unfolding them ─ because there is no horizontal scrollbar ;)
STUFF I HAVEN'T USED YET THUS NOT EXPERIENCED, BUT WILL KEEP IN MIND.
- If you rename a shape or folder don't press backspace - it will delete it ;)
- Lol i came across a nasty bug: the transform tool didn't want to disappear. Every click inside the painting area created multiple new invisible shapes. In seconds i got about 100+. Unable to delete or paint anything ─ Only renaming layers while the layer moving tool was always visible. Somehow i could also move groups horizontally in the layer list. Funny bug but no chance to get back to normal :( - Oh my gosh this one is a major bug! This would really suck, beacuse it causes one to lose the entire design. Something like this wouldn't be so bad if a template could be saved periodically, before publishing.
~ Pink
ycc2106