About making textures patterns backgrounds and seamless tiles.

Sometimes you want to create a colorful background, a seamless background to use as a decoration or scrapbooking filled area etc. There is a program (you can get the free demo here) which will do that for you called Gliftex. Here are some example images:

If you look carefully at each of these images you'll see that "objects" which "exit" from one side "reneter" on the other side. And that is true for top and bottom left and right. That means that these images will tile seamlessly, you can place copies next to each other and you'll never see the "join"!

Actually (deliberate mistake) there is one of the four images above which does not tile, can you see which one it is?

So, anyway, how do we make image like this with Gliftex? Well to make your first image click on the icon in the top left of the main window. When the image is complete (it will take a few seconds) click on the tiling icon and you will get a dialog box like this:

If the check box is not checked then do so. Click on OK and from then on you'll automatically get all designs tilable and seamless.

What is the visible difference between an seamless image used in a background and an "ordinary" used as a background. Well this image (with deliberately chunky notes to make my point) has tiling turned off, but it is hard to tell:

Until of course we put two copies side by side, when it becomes horribly obvious:

Now, use the icon to turn on tiling and you'll get this image:

With images this complicated it is hard to see if they tile seamlessly, but put two copies side by side and voila'!

While you the designer don't have to work any harder to produce seamless backgrounds with Gliftex the program does, and it takes a few seconds longer to generate the tiles. If you only want the images as standalone decorations you can switch the tiling off. Below is an example of a deliberatelt untiled design:

The program costs only $29.95 (Home version) and a free demo is avialable here. Below are some quick tutorials about creating other sorts of images, both tiled and non:

Click below for the free demo of the Gliftex.

How to create Paisley designs

How to create floral designs.

How to create mandala designs.

How to create Paisley designs.

Calico Patterns

Allover Patterns

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Background Design Program