Quick & Easy Half-Drop Repeat Patterns Using Smart Actions in Adobe Illustrator

Your time is valuable! 

Make the most of it by working smarter, not harder when creating patterns in Adobe Illustrator: My streamlined quadrant system will help you create beautiful half-drop patterns quickly, while ensuring they work seamlessly for a variety of mediums.

There are a lot of other wonderful surface pattern design classes out there, but my class is unique because I’m going to teach you the workflow I use that helps me save time when creating patterns in Adobe Illustrator. By the end of this class, you’ll create a half-drop pattern block and you’ll be able to optimize your pattern creation workflow, so you can focus on the fun part: creating the art! 

In this class, you will learn:

• How I use quadrants to make designing half-drop patterns easy
• How to set up your Illustrator file the right way
• How to create actions and keyboard shortcuts to automate processes like repeating design elements
• How to test your patterns in Adobe Photoshop to ensure they repeat seamlessly

My name is Carrie Cantwell, and I’m a surface designer and educator. I have a BFA in graphic design, and I’ve been using Adobe products for over 20 years. I became a surface designer in 2020, so when I started creating patterns, I devised a system that helps me make the most of my time. I’ve made hundreds of patterns using my quadrant system, and I make a pretty decent living from royalties through print-on-demand websites like Spoonflower. My patterns have been featured in Peppermint Magazine, and Spoonflower, Society6 and Raspberry Creek have promoted my patterns through their websites and social media accounts.

Please share your lovely projects in the Project Gallery, and please don't forget to leave me a review! I highly value student feedback :) I want to learn what you found helpful, and what—if anything—could've been explained better. Please let me know your thoughts by posting your review, and I promise to take each and every one of your feedback comments to heart. I want to make sure you get real value out of everything I teach. Thank you!