How can you create or apply a pattern in Illustrator?

How can you create or apply a pattern in Illustrator?

• A. Object > Pattern > Create
• B. Object > Pattern > Make or drag & drop into the swatches panel
• C. Use the Pattern Tile Tool
• D. Apply a Pattern Fill from the Swatches Panel

Answer: (B)

Creating or applying patterns in Illustrator starts by turning artwork into a repeating tile and saving that tile as a pattern swatch. The most direct workflow uses the Pattern feature: select the artwork and choose Object > Pattern > Make to enter Pattern Editing mode, where you can adjust how the tile repeats and then click Done to save it as a swatch. You can also drag the artwork directly into the Swatches panel to create a pattern swatch from it. Once a pattern swatch exists, you apply it by selecting an object and applying that swatch as its Fill. The Pattern Tile Tool is used for refining the pattern after it’s created, not for the initial creation. And applying a Pattern Fill from the Swatches Panel presumes a pattern already exists as a swatch. Also, the menu item is Make, not Create, which is why that option isn’t the exact workflow.

Creating or applying patterns in Illustrator starts by turning artwork into a repeating tile and saving that tile as a pattern swatch. The most direct workflow uses the Pattern feature: select the artwork and choose Object > Pattern > Make to enter Pattern Editing mode, where you can adjust how the tile repeats and then click Done to save it as a swatch. You can also drag the artwork directly into the Swatches panel to create a pattern swatch from it. Once a pattern swatch exists, you apply it by selecting an object and applying that swatch as its Fill. The Pattern Tile Tool is used for refining the pattern after it’s created, not for the initial creation. And applying a Pattern Fill from the Swatches Panel presumes a pattern already exists as a swatch. Also, the menu item is Make, not Create, which is why that option isn’t the exact workflow.