How To Make a Pattern/Texture in Photoshop

A pattern is an image that's repeated; you can use patterns to fill in layers or selections. While Photoshop has preset patterns, you can create and save new patterns.

1. Open It:

Open an image you want to use as a pattern base.

Tip: To use an image from Google, right click on the image and choose "Save Image As..."

2. Select It:

Use the Rectangle Marquee tool to select an area to use as a pattern.

Tip: If you want to use the entire image as your fill, go to Select > Select All.

3. Define It:

Select Edit > Define Pattern.

In the Define Pattern dialog box, name the pattern and select OK.

4. Pattern It:

Open or create another image and apply the pattern in the way that you want.

What is a pattern in Photoshop?

A pattern is an image or line art that can be tiled repeatedly. Tiling means subdividing a computer graphics selection into a series of squares and placing them on a layer or within the selection. Thus, a pattern in Photoshop is essentially a tiled image.

Make custom patterns from photos or line art, use the preset patterns that come with Photoshop, or download and install pattern libraries from various online sources.

Tips for Using Patterns in Photoshop

To maximize the usefulness of patterns in Photoshop, keep the following in mind:

Only rectangular selections can be defined as a pattern in some very old versions of Photoshop.
In the Fill dialog, check the box to Preserve Transparency if you want to fill only a layer's non-transparent portions.
If you're applying a pattern to a layer, select the layer and apply a Pattern Overlay in the Layer styles pop-down.
Another way of adding a pattern is to use the Paint Bucket tool to fill the layer or selection. Select Pattern from the Tool Options.
Your pattern collection is found in a library. Select Window > Libraries to open your libraries.