How to Use Pattern Brushes to Create Product Artwork with Catalina Estrada, by Adobe Live on YouTube. 58 min 51 s.
- Video length
- 58 min 51 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Sketch a few simple motifs, like leaves or flowers, then draw them in Illustrator with the Pen or Pencil tool. Keep each shape closed and on its own layer so the brush reads cleanly.
Build a small colour palette before you start. Save each colour as a swatch in the Swatches panel so you can recolour the whole pattern later.
Select one motif with the Selection tool, open the Brushes panel and click New Brush. Choose Pattern Brush and click OK.
In the Pattern Brush Options, set the spacing between tiles and choose how the pattern behaves at the start, end and corners of a path.
Draw a path with the Pen or Pencil tool and apply your new brush to it. Adjust the stroke weight and spacing until the repeat looks even.
Select the brushed artwork and open Edit > Edit Colors > Recolor Artwork. Drag the colour handles to test new palettes, then click OK to apply.
Select the artwork and go to Object > Repeat > Radial. Drag the radius handle and the slider to set how many copies appear around the circle.
Place the finished pattern on a product mockup in Firefly Boards to check it at real size. Export a PNG or PDF when you are happy with it.
Tips and common mistakes
Pattern brushes stretch on tight curves, so increase the spacing or adjust the corner tiles before you apply the brush to small shapes.
Double-click the brush in the Brushes panel to edit it, and every path using that brush updates at once.
Add a corner tile in the brush options if you plan to brush the edges of rectangles or frames.
Keep the original motif on a hidden layer so you can rebuild or recolour the brush later.
Questions
Where do I find the Pattern Brush option?
Open the Brushes panel menu and choose New Brush, then pick Pattern Brush. You can also drag finished artwork straight onto the Brushes panel and select Pattern Brush there.
Can I change the brush after I have applied it?
Yes. Double-click the brush thumbnail in the Brushes panel, change the spacing or tiles, and every path using that brush updates.
Do I need Firefly Boards to finish the artwork?
No. Any mockup template in Photoshop or another editor works. Firefly Boards just makes the product visualisation quicker.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
