Hello, Patyrn creators!

Every pattern designer knows that creation is a dance between focusing on the tiny details and seeing the grand, repeating vision. How can you work on a single, intricate element while also knowing how it will look when tiled a hundred times across a roll of fabric?

The answer lies in switching your perspective. Patyrn gives you the power to do this with a single click using our two powerful Canvas Modes: Seamless and Regular.

Understanding when and how to use these modes will fundamentally change your workflow, making your process faster, more intuitive, and more professional.

What is "Seamless Mode"? (The Big Picture)

Seamless Mode is the magic of Patyrn. When this mode is active, your canvas will automatically tile itself in a real-time preview. As you drag an object off the right edge of your canvas, you'll see it instantly appear on the left.

This gives you a live, accurate preview of exactly how your final repeating pattern will look.

Use Seamless Mode when you need to:

Check the Flow: See how the overall pattern flows and if there are any awkward empty spaces.

Balance Your Composition: Ensure your design elements are evenly distributed across the entire repeating area.

Create Interlocking Elements: Perfect the way objects cross over the edges of your canvas to create a truly invisible repeat.

Do a Final Review: Before exporting, a once-over in Seamless Mode is essential to catch any mistakes in the repetition.

What is "Regular Mode"? (The Focused View)

Regular Mode simplifies your view, showing you only your single, primary canvas without any repeating tiles. This removes all distractions, allowing you to focus purely on the design within that one square.

Use Regular Mode when you need to:

Place Initial Elements: Lay out the main subjects of your pattern without the distraction of the repeating preview.

Do Detail Work: Work on the fine details of a specific illustration or text element without it being duplicated all over your screen.

Simplify Your Workspace: Sometimes you just need a clean, standard canvas to think clearly and build your core composition.

How to Switch Between Modes

You can toggle between Seamless and Regular mode at any time without affecting your design. Look for the Canvas Mode switch, typically located in the control panel alongside the Grid and Zoom tools. It might be a simple toggle button or a small dropdown menu.

A Professional Workflow Example

Start in Regular Mode: Begin by placing your main, hero elements onto the clean canvas.

Switch to Seamless Mode: Turn on the repeating preview to see where the gaps are. Start filling in these gaps with secondary elements, watching how they create a balanced overall pattern.

Return to Regular Mode: Select a specific element and switch back to Regular Mode to refine its color, shape, or details without distraction.

Final Check in Seamless Mode: Before you export, do one last review in Seamless Mode, zooming in and out to ensure everything is perfect.

Mastering the use of both canvas modes will give you a new level of control and confidence in your work. It allows you to be both a focused artist and a master pattern architect, all within the same project.

Happy designing