Sunday 3 June 2012

Basic Pattern Overlays *Giveaway*

Today, I'm really thrilled to be taking part in the "Passion for Pattern" bloghop.  Welcome if you just arrived from the Colour Book Studio blog.  We all recently met through the fab e-course "Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design".  As you can imagine, we're passionate about pattern!

As a digital designer, I'm always looking for ways of smarter working.  My digital toolbox is a vital part of my creative process and is full of design staples.  These make my workflow smarter and a little faster.  For example, when I design a new pattern, I always keep the original Illustrator & Photoshop files in their full layer format.  Apart from proving a working timeline and good work practice to have your original files, it makes for easier editing if you decide to change a colour theme.  It can even make a great starting point for a brand new pattern.

For every new pattern I design, I always add some basic patterns to the set.  With each new basic pattern created, I've saved it in a folder in my "Digital Toolbox" folder as basic "go to" patterns.  I now have  a neat little time saving collection of everything from geometrics, florals to damask.



And so I decided it would be neat to do a special giveaway for this blog post to celebrate the "Passion for Pattern" bloghop.  I've put together a little set of basic pattern overlays that inlcude chevrons, dots, circles and stripes.  They are in transparent PNG file format, 12"x12" and 300dpi.  You can grab the giveaway HERE in my online store.  Hope they'll be of some use to you!

If you've never used pattern overlays, I've also got a great little tutorial, that'll show you ways to colour them.  Be sure to check it out as it shows you how to create a clipping path and how to use layer blend modes.  Enjoy!

Please be sure to leave a comment.  Let me know what other patterns you'd love to see as overlays.  Also, if you have any "working smarter" tips!  I'd love to hear them!

Be sure to jump ahead to the next gorgeous pattern blog, Leslie Doughty.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Diane, great stuff and thank you for sharing your toolbox :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Diane, great stuff and thank you for sharing your toolbox :)

Unknown said...

Diane, great stuff and the giveaway...Yay!!

Unknown said...

Great work Diane and thank you for the freebie :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you Diane! Great designs & love the giveaway :)

Miranda Mol said...

super, and thanks for the tutorial!!

Miranda Mol said...

wonderful & thanks for the tutorial, very handy!!

Believe Creative Studio by Rosie Martinez-Dekker said...

Thanks for sharing your lovely work and your toolbox, but mostly for sharing your inspirational life history!
wishing you lots of success and great things in life for you and your family.
xx
Rosie Martinez-Dekker

Valerie Brown said...

As someone who is on the cusp of learning digital design (yes, I was just too busy through the ABSPD modules) - I appreciate the tips! Beautiful design work!

Eva Marion Seyffarth said...

Love your designs! Nice to have insight into your working process … will check out the give away, thanks a lot!

bethania said...

Wow, Diane, thank you for the freebie and what a great story. Thank you for sharing.

Leslie said...

Hello Diane! Thanks so much for sending your readers my way with the bloghop link. It's been great fun. I love seeing your designs & reading about your family. It's a common journey and struggles we all share. Oh & thanks for the free design - what a generous idea. Cheers!

Anonymous said...

Hi Diane, thanks for sharing! It's great to see someone else in the UK on the ABSPD course who also sells their products digitally for crafters - like me! (I'm just about to start Module 2.) I love your designs and bright, fresh colours. All the best for your future in Surface Pattern Design! x

Anonymous said...

Hi Diane, thanks for sharing! It's great to see someone else in the UK on the ABSPD course who also sells their products digitally for crafters - like me! (I'm just about to start Module 2.) I love your designs and bright, fresh colours. All the best for your future in Surface Pattern Design! x

Claire Smillie said...

What a fantastic giveaway Diane and an absolutely gorgeous collection! Lovely pastel colors :)

Sarah said...

Fun fun Di! I love your patterns and your ideas for working smarter. Whenever I do any photoshop endeavour, I always save evrything under a fdifferent file name so I have my original shots. What I should do though is save my photoshop layers and not just a finished jpeg. Sloppy worker I am!

Veronica Galbraith said...

Lovely designs, great advice, fantastic giveaway!

verogalbraith said...

Lovely designs, great advice and a fantastic giveaway!

Unknown said...

thanks for the freebie Diane. Overlays are so useful. I should start making my own digital save-time folder too. Great idea! I also find the collection you've showcase at the beginning of the post very nice.
^_^

Anonymous said...

Lovely design, thank you for the freebies, and your story is really touching and inspiring.

--emine

Evelyn said...

Hi Diane, beautiful designs. I love the sweet colours combination you used. Thank you so much for your giveaway and the tutorial, you're very generous. Thank you for sharing your beautiful and inspirational life story. Congratulations for being so brave and talented! xx Evelyn

Emine Ortega said...

Thanks for the freebies and for sharing your story with us..it's very encouraging. Great work!

Virginia N.K. said...

Lovely, sorry I couldn't help to grabb the toolbox! thanks alot!

Anonymous said...

Thank you
I am going to read your tutorial about coloring - hope I can do it :)

Jacqueline said...

Wonderful blog, Diane! Loved reading your posts and seeing your work!

Jennifer said...

Thank you for your generosity in sharing your gorgeous work and your tips and toolbox! I just finished Module 1 and am loving it! Best of luck to you!

Shuckclod said...

Thank you for the great overlays...

craftyjay said...

Thank you for the wonderful overlays!

Robin said...

Thank you for the overlays & the tutorial! Love to learn something new!!

Liz said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.