How to Make a Halfdrop Pattern in Procreate | Set Your Canvas Up As A Template
This is a follow up to my first video tutorial on how to create a basic repeat in Procreate on the iPad. A half drop pattern isn’t really any more difficult, but it can make your seamless design look so much more complex and sophisticated.
Check out the step by step tutorial video below. I’ve written down all the steps so it should be fairly simple to follow along. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Step 1 – Set Up The Canvas
Video timestamp: 1:19-2:42
- Open a new canvas of any size of your choosing
- Open a new layer
- Color the layer any color
- Tap the Transform tool
- Make sure Snapping & Magnetics is turned on
- Pull the layer to the top left corner
- Tap the Selections tool
- Tap Save + Load
- Tap “+”
- Tap the Transform Tool
- Pull the layer to the bottom left corner
- Tap the Selections tool
- Tap Save + Load
- Tap “+”
- Tap the Transform Tool
- Fill the layer with the color again
- Pull the layer to the right half of the canvas
- Tap the Selections tool
- Tap Save + Load
- Tap “+”
- Tap the Transform Tool
- Pull the layer to top right corner of the canvas
- Tap the Selections tool
- Tap Save + Load
- Tap “+”
- Tap the Transform Tool
- Pull the layer to the bottom right corner of the canvas
- Tap the Selections tool
- Tap Save + Load
- Tap “+”
- Tap the Transform Tool
- Fill the layer with the color
- Pull the layer to the left half of the canvas
Step 2 – Create Your Template
Video Timestamp: 2:42-2:50
Back out of the Canvas and into Gallery view and make a Copy, call it “Halfdrop Repeat Template” (or whatever you would like to call it.)
Select back into the canvas
Step 3 – Create Your Motifs
Video Timestamp: 2:50-3:03
Now we are ready to start creating our pattern.
Set a background color layer, add a new layer, and create your motifs – draw shapes/characters/flowers/add CF images/etc.
Step 4 – Creating the Halfdrop Pattern
Video Timestamp: 3:04-5:04
Select all layers, including the background color layer, and group them.
Select the group and tap the Selections button. (If you get an error message that says “You currently have a group selected. Would you like to open Layers?” you will need to select all the layers instead of the group – see timestamp 3:15 in the tutorial video for an example.)
Select Save + Load, Select #1, select the Transform tool, select Flip vertical, and Flip horizontal. Select the transform tool to deselect the Transform tool.
Repeat for Save + Load #2 and 3.
Flip your canvas around if you like, and center the elements to give them a seamless look.
Select Save + Load, Select #3, select the Transform tool, select Flip vertical, and Flip horizontal. Select the transform tool to deselect the Transform tool.
Repeat for Save + Load #4 and 5.
Tweak your motifs once more.
Repeat the previous steps to flip Save + Load slots #1-3 again.
Tweak your motifs.
Flip Save + Load #4-5.
Tweak.
Repeat until you are happy with how everything is spaced out.
I usually like to keep flipping a few times, I like to flip Selections #1-3 & 4-6 at least twice each. So that means I will be adjusting and tweaking the motifs 4 times throughout that process.
Step 5 – Test Your Pattern
Video Timestamp: 5:05
Here are the steps to test out the pattern:
- Select the group layer.
- Select Tools (the wrench icon) – under Actions, “Add” should be selected.
- Select Copy Canvas
- Select Paste
- Optional: Hide the group to be able to see what you’re moving around more clearly
- Drag layer by the corner to half size. Push it up against one side of the canvas while being centered vertically.
- Duplicate that layer
- Pull it below so that the bottom half is cut off – Make sure you see the yellow lines when lining up the boxes and don’t tap anywhere on the screen or you’ll cause the image to nudge in that direction and it will no longer be lined up with the edges of the canvas.
- Duplicate the first layer again
- Pull it above so that the top half is cut off
- Duplicate the first layer again
- Pull it the the top corner on the other side of the canvas
- Duplicate that layer
- Pull it to the bottom layer
- Merge the 5 half sized layers
- See how you like your halfdrop pattern
- Make any fixes to the original layer group below.
I hope these steps were easy to follow! If there is anywhere that doesn’t make sense, please do let me know and I will do my best to clear it up.
And if you haven’t checked out my tutorial on how to create a basic repeat pattern in Procreate, be sure to check it out here: How to Make a Basic Repeat in Procreate | Set Your Canvas Up As A Template
Happy Designing!
Tessa
