How to Make a Seamless Pattern in Affinity Designer

For this tutorial, we are making a seamless pattern. You can use it to print at home to make scrapbook paper, use with printable vinyl, or sublimation. A seamless pattern allows you to join multiple copies side by side without a visible seam to make a larger design.

If you are using an outside source like a print company or manufacturer, you would need to make sure you follow the transformative guidelines as mentioned in the Flat Sheet Goods section in the Design Bundles license.

We are using Coffee Clipart from the Plus Hub. You can use the same process in the iPad version of Affinity Designer.

Step 1: Set up your Artboards

First, create a new document. Since we are going to tile it needs to be a square. Use the size you want but take into account what will be the use of the pattern when you set size and resolution (ours was 2000 x 2000 Pixels @300 dpi). Check the create artboard box.

Your document should look like this.

Click on the artboard tool in the toolbox and then on the insert artboard button to add a second one. Make sure that it is positioned next to the first one.

With the new artboard selected head to the transform studio panel and change the width and height size to double the original ones.

In our case 4000 x 4000 Pixels.

Step 2: Create the symbols

Use the rectangle tool (M) and create a square on top of artboard 1, make sure it has the same size as the artboard (2000 x 2000 Pixels) and it is placed exactly on top of it (In the transform panel: X: 0, Y: 0, W: 2000 px and H: 2000 px).

With the square selected open the symbols studio panel.

And click on create to turn the square into a symbol.

Copy the symbol (command/control + C).

And paste it (command/control + V) into artboard 2.

Make sure it is positioned on the top-left corner (In the transform panel: X: 0, Y: 0).

Then, create three more duplicates to end up with a total of four in artboard 2.

Change the fill color of the square in the artboard one to the one you wish to use for your pattern.

Move the squares to fill the entire artboard making sure that they are placed exactly in the four quadrants. (1: X: 0, Y: 0, 2: X: 2000, Y: 0, 3: X: 0, Y: 2000 and 4: X: 2000, Y: 2000).

Step 3: Save the master template

If you want to create more patterns, save this document as a master template (shift + command/control + S) and use a copy to create your patterns.

Step 4: Add the design elements

Open the elements you want to use in your design and copy them.

Paste them into artboard 1 and resize them if needed.

If you prefer, you can create your own elements drawing them directly with vector and/or raster brushes.

Start positioning the inside base elements of the pattern.

To check how the pattern works make sure that all the elements are placed in the symbols layer.

If they are not, select their thumbnails and drag them down. You should see them repeating in the four quadrants of artboard 2.

Step 5: Add the edges and corners elements of the repeat pattern

For the design elements that will be on the edges, you need to take into account that the x-axis is horizontal and the y-axis is vertical (in the transform panel). Place elements on the edge of the canvas.

Create a duplicate (command/control + J) and with it selected head to the transform studio panel and click inside the X or Y box depending on where you placed your element (in our case was on the top edge so we will select the Y box.

Leave the number that is there and add a + 2000 (or the size of your artboard) and hit enter. Your duplicate should move to the exact opposite side of the canvas.

Remember that if you are moving the element to the left and up you should subtract (-2000), and if you are moving to the right and down you should add (+2000).

To make sure that your repeat pattern edges remain the same even if you move them, select the two elements and group them together (command/control + G).

Do the same with the rest of the elements you wish to place on the edges.

For the ones placed on the side edges, you should select the Y box in the transform studio panel.

Keep checking the pattern behavior in artboard 2 and add more elements or move the existing ones around to fill gaps.

Step 6: Export your file

Once you are happy with your pattern, go to file >export.

Choose PNG as the file format and choose artboard 1 from the area menu.

Select the location you want to store your file and click save.

Now you can share it, or use it on a print on demand site.

This is our pattern file.

If you wish to learn more about the cool things you can do with Affinity Designer, take a look at our guides on using clipping masks and using the pen tool. We also have a guide on making seamless patterns in Illustrator, if that's your preferred program.