Question 1

Full Patterns in Pod Graphics Maker

Accepted Answer

POD Graphics Maker is a quick and easy way to make (mostly geometric) images with only a few presses of a button.

There are multiple modules available:

A rare third type of shape, that isn't in every pack, is the Full pattern.

Let's see what makes this type of pattern so special.

Symbol Options

The Full patterns combine the best features of both the tiles and the shapes. They don't have to adhere to the square tiles of tile patterns, but they also aren't based on a singular shape as the Shape is.

Instead, you have a pattern that can be variated in different ways.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/wuGqS3zSeN/resources/9xXP3m2K99/Full%20shape.jpg (Full shape)

Some of the options are very obvious. Shape size changes the size of the squares.

Mid-shift moves the mid-points of the lines out or in, turning the pattern into stars or octagons. Sounds confusing, but if you see it in action, you'll understand.

Fluidity is the same as in every other, make the lines rounded instead of square.

Pattern options

The most important option to note here is "Seamless". With this option you can turn the pattern into a seamless pattern.

You can also change the amounts of rows and columns, and the other options regarding color randomisation are also in this tab.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/wuGqS3zSeN/resources/RF36xQXJim/full%20pattern%20seamless.jpg (full pattern seamless)

Basic Settings

We're once again using a pattern from the Starter Bundle of POD Graphics maker, this time we use 00-7 Shape - Flower. This pattern is, exactly as it says on the box, meant to resemble flower drawings.

There are three flower types, where the main difference is how the bigger petals are located compared to the smaller petals.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/wuGqS3zSeN/resources/MY9kss7ZF4/Flower.jpg (Flower)

You might find that two of the patterns have lines that don't look quite right. This is easily fixed the moment you start adding colours.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/wuGqS3zSeN/resources/eUswVLSobn/Flower%202.jpg (Flower 2)

The moment you press "Use Fill Colours" in the colors tab, it will automatically be fixed.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/wuGqS3zSeN/resources/bi2d14zl5A/Flower%20fill.jpg (Flower fill)

Customising your Shape

Every shape has some unique options on the first tab. For Flower, it's Petal Style, Petal Size, Flower Size, Number of Petals, Shape Size.

Petal Style changes the shape of the petals.

Petal Size changes the proportion of the center of the flower compared to the petals.

Flower Size changes the amount of rows of petals (Standard is 2)

Number of Petals does exactly what it says on the box, it changes the amount of petals per row

Shape Size changes the size of the shape, so the flower, you're creating. This may not have a big effect, depending on your settings in the prior options.

Changing those around, and we get a flower similar to this:

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/wuGqS3zSeN/resources/8CQLhF2r90/Flower%20changes.jpg (Flower changes)

Pattern

The colors tab is the same as for the tiled patterns. If you want more information on those, that can be found at our "getting started" tutorial.

The masks and Text Overlay tabs are explained more in the mask tutorial.

Patterns, however, are something that is unique for the Shapes, and something that the tiles do not have. So let's see what the Pattern tab has to offer for us.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/wuGqS3zSeN/resources/NafzZuxKut/Pattern%20tab.jpg (Pattern tab)

We can change the amount of flowers that appears on the canvas, the way they are scattered across the canvas, rotate the flowers (This definitely shows better when you have less... circular patterns), and of course, the colour options.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/wuGqS3zSeN/resources/VYfacD6DND/pattern%20options.jpg (pattern options)

A neat detail you may notice, is that the pattern is technically seamless! You can use these in an on-going pattern, if you so choose. The other pattern options are based on tiles, where smaller and larger flowers are repeated in a solid pattern, instead of random.

You can also see there is some rotation, some flowers have a leaf on the very top, some have a gap there.

Full Patterns in Pod Graphics Maker

Using Shapes in POD Graphics Maker

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