Processing Patterns

A simple way to make 'pixelated' patterns, by using Photoshop and Processing!

Open Photoshop and choose File > New. I used the size 8px x 8px and a low resolution to really get a pixelated effect.

Once you have pressed 'OK' you see a really small white square. Zoom in as far as possible (cmd/ctrl +).

Then choose Image > Adjustments > Invert (cmd/ctrl I), to see the pixels of the blank paper.

Choose the Pencil tool and resize it into 1 pixel.

Draw! Free your inner artist and turn those black pixels into white pixels!

Then resize your artwork to 80px x 80px by choosing Image > Image size. Change Width and Height into 80 and choose the option 'Nearest Neighbor (preserve hard edges)'.

Save your pixelated image as PNG of JPEG.

There is a possibility to copy, paste and turn your pixelated image in Photoshop over hundred times to create a surprising pattern. But there is a much easier way, with Processing. This Processing code automatically copies, pastes and turns your pixelated image into an pattern of any size you want!

Copy and paste the Processing code into a new sketch of Processing and save it.

Drag the pixelated image you just made in Photoshop into the sketch, Processing is now automatically adding this image to the folder of the sketch. Also change the name of 'image.jpg' into the name and extension of your image between the quotation marks (in my case "pattern06.png").

Change the size into any size you want, I choose for 800 x 800.

Press play!

I used this pattern to knit it with a knitting machine and to lasercut it into a tile (instructables.com/id/Patterned-tiles).