Sharing the Love

Thanks to rotten for this info

How to create your own patterns

This is a list of technical specifications to make patterns that can be submitted to ColourLovers and so used as pattern templates on this site.

This thread does not cover how to make a repeating pattern or how to use vector software.

You can use any kind of svg (scalable vector graphics) processing software, for example Adobe illustrator, the discontinued macromedia freehand or an open source alternative, inkscape (http://www.inkscape.org).

rotten suggests these sizes: Start with a 400×400px document, with 300dpi resolution and pixels as ruler units to use transforming tools more effective.

For specifying different colour areas, be sure to work with layers and to seperate each color on its own layer

Every layer should be expanded for strokes and fills becoming objects rather than object properties, which would help its cross-platform usage.

If any typographical elements are used in your pattern, these have to be created as outlines ("create outlines" in adobe illustrator).

Colourlovers palettes need to be sent in vector format, so exported file formats should be .eps, .ai or .svg - where you won't need to export your file embeding icc profiles (as the pattern will be added to the system as greyscale) and .pdf support.

Where do I submit my pattern?

you can use this link to submit a pattern http://www.colourlovers.com/contact

Having downloaded a few pattern swatches from what's available, I've concluded that file size and ratio are somewhat flexible though - some patterns are square tiles, some are rectangular tiles, some are like 100 px wide, others are closer to 300-400.

Using the link above, there is no way to "attach" a pattern file. How does one do that? Submit a link to the pattern file or use the email address listed below the form?

@jilbert:

I advise you to use the e-mail address.

onebreath wrote:

@jilbert:

Thanks! I've tried that -- now I all need to do is see if they accept any.

Just to make sure I want to recapitulate:

● Size: 100x100px to 400×400px
● Resolution: 300dpi
● Color Space: Any, RGB, grayscale...
● Vector shapes only (fill+outline): Fonts, effects, gradients(?) all need to be vectorized.
● Email : love@colourlovers.com

-----------
So I’d like to know:

● File format? svg (compressed?), pdf, ai, eps?? - with layers (what is the eventual output format ColorLovers use? xml?)
● Pattern Colors are defined by layers
There are 5 colors in a pattern, are the order as shown in seamless?
eg:
Does this mean:
● Image limits? exact pattern limit or who/whatever generates the patterns needs NNpx to overlap to detect the pattern?

In fact, it would be nice if someone could put a "pattern template" (link here?) we could be as base.

i cannot figure out how to make my pattern 5 colors. I have 5 seperate layers, but when I save, it turns into 2 colors. what am I doing wrong?

symea wrote:

i cannot figure out how to make my pattern 5 colors. I have 5 seperate layers, but when I save, it turns into 2 colors. what am I doing wrong?

If you see 5 different greys?

I mean those are the colors, not the layers: each shape is a layer and each layer needs to have a grey color defined.

NOTICE:
Apparently since Seamless, you can't send patterns anymore... so partial part of the above information is not valid

Is it possible to fill a user-defined shape in Seamless? I.e., create an outline with the Bezier draw tool, and then fill it with the appropriate "layer color" placeholder?

That's real disappointing, that you can't submit patterns anymore. I've been learning Inkscape with intent of being able to submit patterns. There is an awful lot that Seamless can't do. And Seamless is quite hard to use. It is awfully slow. It is quite awkward. And it crashes a lot. It is not very accurate. Very sad day for me.

I've created an image in photoshop.
How could (if possible) I import it to use in seamless as a shape?

thanks~