Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Entering Pattern Edit
ing Mode (PEM)
You can still create a pattern by simply dragging a pattern tile to the Swatches panel,
but to explore the power of designing patterns in Illustrator you must enter Pattern
Editing Mode (PEM). PEM is a special kind of isolation mode that fades back objects
you're not working on and inserts a gray control bar (the PEM isolation bar) between
your document and the title bar (if you're not familiar with isolation mode, see
“
Using Isolation Mode
” in the chapter
Your Creative Workspace
). If you have specific
artwork that you want to use in your pattern, select it before entering PEM. If you
have nothing selected you'll begin with a blank tile 100 px by 100 px, or the
equivalent size measured in whatever units you're currently using. There are two
steps to being able to work in PEM: 1) you must open the Pattern Options panel, and
2) you must actually
enter
PEM. Following are a few ways to simultaneously open the
Pattern Options panel and enter PEM:
•
Choose Object
>
Pattern
>
Make
—if you make patterns infrequently and you don't
mind using menus.
•
Create a custom keyboard shortcut
(Edit menu) to quickly access the command if you
make patterns often.
•
Double-click on an existing pattern swatch
in the Swatches panel. This places the
swatch on the artboard in PEM and opens the Pattern Options panel.
Creating the pattern
While working in PEM you can always change the size of your pattern tile. To do this,
either enter a new Width and Height for it in the Pattern Options panel, or use the
Pattern Tile tool (located at the top of the Pattern Options panel) to interactively
adjust the tile's dimensions.
The Pattern Tile tool (not yet selected) for adjusting tiles, Swatch Bounds, and offsets interactively
