This tutorial consists of three parts:
How to make pattern is Adobe
How to apply patterns in Adobe
Effects of patterns
For Those of you who use PSP, i can't help you. But DHF does have a wee tut under goodies on applying patterns in PSP 6.02
           
In this tutorial, pattern means the same as brush, because they are actually one and the same. You can make a brush and use it as a pattern.
Making Patterns

To your left you see four examples of my patterns. I'm sure those of you who have visited Xandorra have seen similar.
On the two to the right I just started with a simple patterns and then multiplied it. The two to the left are irregular and are pased on squibbling. Since I work on very large dolls, it's normal for me to have to copy and paste such patterns to make them much bigger.
If this was from Xandorra I would turn the white background transparent and remove the grey outline, then copy the pattern, and gradually paste and fit it so in the end I have a pattern that is 10cm high and wide. That will cover just about anything. (if you are new with adobe and have no clue which tools i'm talking about, you should perhaps look at my full doll tut, which starts with a small introduction to some basic tools in adobe)
   

Well, lets say you've done what I just said (feel free to use mine for this purpose) and multiplied it so you have it on a large scale, what now. Mark what you want turned into a brush in adobe and then go to Edit - Define brush. Name it, and it will have been added to your selection of brushes. Just like that. There are hardly any limits to what you can turn into a brush this way. Though keep in mind that what is taken for the brush is the dark parts, so light stuff often doesn't get included.
   
However, you can also download brushes from websites. Most will come in zip files. The place to have them is in Adobe - Presets - Brushes. When you enter adobe, you find the text that says load brushes (in adobe 7 it's on a clickable option next to your collection of bushes), and then choose the one you want. Easy and simple, but mind those of you with Adobe 6, there is a limited space for brushes.
Using Patterns

The base for the doll example is from Bunnystick
To the left you can see the brush/pencil view. Click down on it and down pops a thumbnail view of all you brushes. To the upper right corner is another pop menu, where you can save your collection, delete or load download brushes.
 
I don’t add patterns until I am done shading the piece. I have the clothing I want to “patternize” on two layers. One has the outline of the clothing and filled with the second darkest shade used in shading it. On the second is the pixel-smudged shading. When you want to add a pattern, always make a new layer for it.

Applying a pattern:
Click on the layer view for layer nr 1 with outline and fill. Choose a marquee tool with 0 tolerance and click on the fill, then make a new layer over the pixel-smudged layer. Make sure you have chosen the pencil tool when you choose your brush/pattern, unless you want it blurry. As you have selected the entire fill, all you have to do is click the brush over it on the new layer and hey presto, there is you pattern applied and all ready for touch-ups.
To the left you can see a clear yellow pattern (i've gotten a new monitor since i made this, and lol, i can't see it at all), but I found it way to garish and decided to use a brown found in the clothing. I also went back and removed the patterns on the hems. Such small things can be a nice touch at times. The pattern does not have to cover all of the clothing

To the right you can see i have used burn and dodge to shade the pattern, a bit brutaly at that. Try to keep it the same as the shading of the clothing under it. And then on the second frame, the important reason why you should keep your patterns on their own layers, is playing with opacity. This went down to 32%. It went from garish and bold to more of a subtle texture. Patterns does not have to be obvious to make a difference.
       

To the left you can see all the patterns added. I think there are around 8 of them in all, with various colours, shapes and opacity. It’s easy to get a little over zealous with patterns, which I think I may have done lol.
One thing to note, when you use busy patterns that are darker than the clothing’s original shade, the overall effect is that it gets, of course, darker. So sometimes it’s a good idea to make the outline a wee bit darker to suit it. Same goes for a busy, light pattern, lighten the outline.


To the right in the first frame I have, to some barely noticeable degree, changed the outline colours, then I have merged the patterns to the rest of the clothe sand use burn and dodge on the whole lot. This effects the patterns, in different ways. Some become more prominent while others take a turn for a more textures feel ( I imagine anyway, but it may be delusional lol). And this concludes this part about applying patterns.

Effects of patterns
  • For every new pattern, create a new layer That way you can use dodge and burn to shade only the pattern, as well as playing with opacity.
  • Who said you could only have one pattern at work?
  • And they do not have to similar patterns. You can have a subtle one at low opacity functioning as a texture, with a second or even third one on top as a visible pattern.
  • You can easily match pieces originally in very different colours by taking one colour from
    the one of the pieces and using it as a pattern in the other.
  • It doesn't have to glary you in the face in bright neon colours to make a difference.
Another animation. The speed is set at 5 sec, so it takes it’s time.
  • 1 frame: A very bold pattern, and I think it kind of works well. Had to change the line colour. Good for the dramatic statement I think and often draw the eye. But beware, too much can dominate the image and take too much attention away from other bits.
  • 2 frame: An example of a texture like pattern, but alas, on full opacity. It usually better to fiddle with opacity to find the better middle way
  • 3 frame: And this is the middle way
  • 4 frame: En example of unfortunate choice of colour and possibly opacity. It too busy and disrupted.
  • 5 frame: a simple pattern at very low opacity. It’s just about visible. On a lot of things it’s a nice effect, but on this particular doll, I would have added either a texture pattern under it, or another more prominent pattern above it.

On the last note, I will say a bit about what kind of pattern/colour/opacity may give what effect:

  • Bold Pattern: High opacity of course, and a colour that is different enough from what it’s on to be visible and prominent. This is a pattern that are meant to be just that, patterns, like polka dots or flowers. The pattern should however not be too busy; otherwise it would be hard to distinguish the clothing underneath from the pattern.
  • Subtle Pattern: Low opacity and colour that usually mesh well with the clothing. But low opacity usually does that for you, so no worries. The subtle pattern is just there for details, or perhaps gives the clothing an extra sheen, a barely visible pattern that still manages to make a difference. Also, it can help against some less than excellent tool shading. A subtle pattern can be both busy or simple, but if too busy it can cross over from pattern to texture.
  • Texture Pattern: A busy pattern and low opacity in a similar colour to the clothing, but either darker or lighter. The pattern in frame 2 and 3 is a texture pattern, even more so if you flip it horizontally and add them over. They can, if you are lucky with both colour, pattern and find just the opacity, it will mesh into the fabric and make it appear more like texture, like coarse linen and so on.
 
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