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Generally, there are 17 kinds of symmetry for seamless patterns, however Adobe Illustrator can offer us only one of them, it is called the Simple Shift. Thanks to MirrorMe plug-in we can significantly extend the functionality of the Pattern Maker feature, adding at least another 7 kinds of mirror symmetry. Let’s take a look at how to create additional types of symmetry, working directly in the Pattern Maker mode.
Native Simple Shift (p1)
Although the Pattern Options panel has 5 presets to create seamless patterns, these are all the varieties of the same type of symmetry — Simple Shift. Indeed, these presets do not allow you to reflect and rotate the original element of the pattern, allowing only a shift. Typically to demonstrate a type of symmetry we use any asymmetric element, such as the letter F.
Mirror (pm)
Select the original element/elements of the pattern, then go to Object > Pattern > Make. Now increase the size of the Bounding box, using the Pattern Tile Tool or numeric fields in the Pattern Options panel.
Take MirrorMe Tool in the Tools panel and open its panel (Window > MirrorMe > MirrorMe panel). Place one axis of symmetry at an angle of 90 degrees in the MirrorMe panel. Place an axis so that the pattern element is in the active sector of MirrorMe Tool.
Clicking on the artboard will create annotation system, choose Apply to Selection.
Now you can change the size of the Bounding box, select another preset in the Pattern Options panel, add new elements, and finally save the pattern by clicking the Done button.
You can read full version of this tutorial on AstuteGraphics.com....
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