Easy Patterns with Filters (noise and offset)

This tutorial was made using Photoshop CS2. However, parts of it will translate into other versions of Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, and some other graphics programs. In Paint Shop Pro 9 go to Effects -> Effects Browser -> Add/Remove Noise -> Add Noise and for offset choose and Effects -> Image Effects -> Offset.

Basic Method

  1. Go to File -> New. Choose the size for your pattern. Since the pattern will tile you can make it small (100 - 200 pixels). I chose 100 X 100.
  2. Choose the Paint Bucket Tool and dump in your base color. I chose #d7b599. Next flatten the image (Layer -> Flatten Image).
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  3. Add noise (Filter -> Noise -> Add Noise). Check "Monochromatic". There are no specifics for the amount of noise. If you want a busy pattern add more noise. Gaussian noise will generally produce a bigger or subtler pattern. I used 3.48 Uniform noise.
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  4. Duplicate layer.
  5. Choose a filter. You have a lot of freedom during this step. I chose Reticulation. Some of my favorite filters include:
    • artistic -> dry brush, paint daubs, cutout, or palette knife
    • brush strokes -> accented edges, angled strokes, crosshatch, and ink outlines
    • sketch -> note paper, photocopy, reticulation, stamp
    • texture -> craquelure

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  6. Go to Filter -> Other -> Offset
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  7. Change the blend mode of the layer. I chose Overlay.
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  8. Flatten image.
  9. You can make additional changes including adjusting color balance, selective color, increasing or decreasing saturation or contrast. I increased the saturation by 15.
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Alternate 1:

  1. Using Filter -> Brush Strokes -> Ink Outline (stroke length 4, dark intensity 20, light intensity 10)
  2. Set layer to Softlight.
  3. Filter -> Other -> Offset
  4. Flatten.
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Alternate 2

  1. Using Filter -> Brush Strokes -> Spayed Strokes (stroke length 3, spray radius 3, right diagonal)
  2. Filter -> Other -> Offset
  3. Image -> Adjustments -> Contrast +20
  4. Image -> Adjustments -> Color Balance (red +25 for midtones)
  5. Flatten image (Layer -> Flatten Layer)
  6. Duplicate layer. Set the duplicated layer to soft light. Flatten layer.
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Important Note

Depending on the filter(s) you use you may end up with gaps or lines when you use the offset filter. If this happens you can usually fix it by using a small paint brush and painting with the background color or one or more of the pattern colors to fix the gaps. Alternately you can use the healing brush.