How to Make a Seamless Pattern in Inkscape

For this tutorial we are making a seamless repeating pattern that you could use to print at home to make scrapbook paper, use with printable vinyl, or sublimation. 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.

Seamless patterns can be copied and applied without any visible seams or distortions. This means that Backgrounds can easily be created. Inkscape has a preset template for Seamless Patterns with a guide on how to go about it.

A quick note before we begin. While this feature is a great way to create patterns, it is RAM intensive. The tutorial will be using a 500 x 500 square but depending on your system you can use the 100 x 100 default.

There are many great Rainbow Clipart available on Design Bundles. Today we will be using the Bright Rainbows by VR Digital Design.

Step 1 - Create a New Seamless Pattern Template

As Inkscape has a template already installed, setting up the canvas is very quick. The template comes with a guide and a set of layers.

Click on Inkscape and select New Document. Click on File and select New from Template. Under the menu that appears, scroll down to Seamless Pattern and click to select. On the right side adjust the width and height. We set our pattern size to 500 x 500. Next, click Create from Template.

Inkscape will set up the page as seen in the image below. The guide appears at the top with information on how to proceed. The work area is the smaller square space while the larger image is your preview. The preview updates as you adjust your design on the canvas. It also shows how your design will appear as a seamless pattern.

The seamless pattern template has two layers, Pattern Foreground and Pattern Background. These are found under the Helper Layer. To view the layers panel, click on View Layers at the top of the screen. The Layers panel will open on the right hand side. The Pattern Foreground is your design layer and where the images are placed.

Step 2 - Add a Background for the Pattern

A square background will be added to Background layer. First, delete the current image on the canvas. Click + drag a selection box around the elements and press Delete. Next, be sure to click on Enable Snapping on the right side of the screen. Further down the panel click on Snap to page border. This will make it easier to snap the background to the canvas.

Under the Layers panel, click on Pattern Background to select. On the left side panel click Create rectangles and squares then click + drag out a square. Start at the one corner of the canvas. As you draw out the shape it will snap to the corner.

Zoom in by pressing Z then clicking the left mouse button. To zoom out press Shift+ click. Zoom in so that the canvas fills the screen.

Use the Fill and Stroke panel to change the color. If not visible, click the Object menu at the top then Fill and Stroke. Choose a light color for the background.

Step 3 - Insert the Clip Art

Creating a Seamless pattern is actually a fun project. Inkscape creates an opposite of the image for a seamless design. Before inserting any clip art designs, click on Pattern Foreground under the Layers Panel.

You can copy and paste clip art in or drag and drop from your file location. We will use the drag and drop method. Use the PNG formats as these have transparent backgrounds. When you import an image Inkscape will bring up the Import menu. Leave the settings as is and click Ok. This will happen each time a new clip art is dropped in.

The image may be quite large when loaded so zoom out and click to activate the adjustment handles. When decreasing the size, the image might go off the canvas. It will become difficult to select and move image. But we have a solution for that.

Click the Object menu at the top and select Align and Distribute. It will show on the right hand side. Change the option Relative To: so that it shows Page. Draw a selection box around the image. Next click Center on Vertical Axis then Center on Horizontal Axis. The image will be positioned in the middle of the page.

Now you can move the image around as you want. Place the image near an edge or corner. Inkscape will place the opposite part of the image on the other side of the canvas or at all corners. This will allow the pattern to be seamlessly joined.

There will be a lag when importing and moving the clip art around. When moving, it will appear as if you are moving an invisible box. Carry on to reposition and the image will adjust. If you zoom out the Preview will show how the image has been distributed.

If you accidentally place the element on the Pattern Background layer, there is a quick fix. With the element selected, right click and Move to layer. Under the menu, select Pattern Foreground and click Move. Add more images as needed.

Step 4 - Align and Distribute the Clip Art

The Align and Distribute panel makes placing clip art images easier. Next to Relative to: make sure that Page is selected. This will align to the center or side of the page.

We will use Center on vertical axis and Center on horizontal axis. Which one you use will depend on where you place your image. If adding to the top middle of the page, choose Center on Vertical Axis. If aligning to the edges use Center on Horizontal Axis.

When repositioning the images be sure to click on the original and not the opposites created by Inkscape.

Zooming out, the preview shows you how the design looks.

Step 5 - Export the Seamless Pattern as PNG

We want to save this pattern as a PNG file to be used in other programs. Under the Layers panel on the right click on the Pattern Layer at the top.

Click the Edit menu at the top and choose Select All. Next, click on File and Export as PNG. The export menu will open on the right side. Make sure the Export Area is set to Selection and change the DPI to 300 for highest quality. The location of the Filename can be changed by clicking Export As. Finally, click Export.

Your seamless pattern is now complete and can be used in other programs like Silhouette Studio. Open the PNG file in Silhouette Studio and duplicate, then align.

If you enjoyed this tutorial check out our tutorials on Using Digital Papers in Inkscape and Creating a Neon Text Effect in Inkscape.