Creating a Patterned Layer... with a gap

    I know how to create a patterned layer from a selection, however, I find that if I have any empty space that I WANT, it is not kept when I create the Patterned layer from Selection.

    Here is an example. I have created this seamless section that I want as a repeated pattern:

    Despite having a wide selection above and below that section, when creating the Patterned layer FROM SELECTION, it ignores that space:

    The only gap, in this example, comes from the faint shadow.

    Is there a way to actually respect the intentional space when creating the Patterned Layer from Selection?

    Quote from Oufti

    Have you tried to add a line with no fill no stroke at the top and bottom (on the dashed line) of your pattern?

    I guess that is an idea; a line that is obvious enough and separate enough to be removed. That is a workaround.

    I am just puzzled that it is called "Patterned Layers from Selection" yet, it does not respect the selection.

    Quote from Cassel

    I am just puzzled that it is called "Patterned Layers from Selection" yet, it does not respect the selection.

    If it's a pixel layer, and you have fully-transparent pixels at the edge, they might be viewed as non-existant. The marching ants just show you a region on the screen. The pixels within that region, if any, are the content of the selection and I think they are what would be used for your pattern.

    Quote from Cassel

    But it seems to only take into account the non-transparent pixels inside that selection and not all of the pixels.

    If they're transparent, how can you be sure there are actually pixels there? Example: create a new Pixel layer. It has no content. Paint with a paint brush. You only have pixels in the areas you've painted. The rest of the pixel layer remains empty, and has no pixels.

    Quote from walt.farrell

    If they're transparent, how can you be sure there are actually pixels there? Example: create a new Pixel layer. It has no content. Paint with a paint brush. You only have pixels in the areas you've painted. The rest of the pixel layer remains empty, and has no pixels.

    Oh, to me a pixel is a "space", and i can think of transparent pixels and non-transparent pixels.

    I am just thinking that a SELECTION can include a transparent "pixel area" and that is what I was looking to use since it is called a SELECTION.

    Quote from Cassel

    I guess that is an idea; a line that is obvious enough and separate enough to be removed. That is a workaround.

    A line with no fill and no stroke is invisible. Not obvious -- you might have to select it using the Layers panel. And depending on your process, probably no need to remove it.

    I see the brevity of truth.

    Quote from Cassel

    Oh, to me a pixel is a "space", and i can think of transparent pixels and non-transparent pixels.

    I am just thinking that a SELECTION can include a transparent "pixel area" and that is what I was looking to use since it is called a SELECTION.

    The Selection is just a region of the workspace, and the region may or may not actually contain any pixels. Another example: create a new document using File > New, from a Preset. It starts out empty, with no Layers.

    Next, grab one of the Pixel selection tools, such as the Rectangular Marquee Tool. Make a selection with it. You'll see the Marching Ants, but thigh you seem to have a Selection, it is empty because you don't have any Layers. And even if you add a Pixel Layer, your Selection will remain empty until you add some pixels to the layer. And the selection is still empty unless the pixels you added are within the Marching Ants.

    Yes, I was hoping that the SELECTION in the New Patterned Layer from Selection would actually include the "empty" area as it is also included in the selection itself. I can see that it would allow one to add space to the pattern and give much more flexibility.

    I know I shouldn't compare but PSP does it, which allows very interesting layered seamless patterns because they could start from the same "selection" and therefore, always match, in size/repeats, even if one has 10 different patterns on different layers. Or, as in my example in the OP, I could space those braids much wider with no additional workaround.

    Maybe I could make a Feature suggestion for it.

    Quote from walt.farrell

    Possibly use a brush with an opacity of 1% and a very light color.

    It is a workaround, but I would suggest there shouldn't need one.

    I can crop to an area that has no pixels. I can make a selection where there is no pixels. Many tools and commands respect the Selection made, so I will suggest that the New Patterned Layer from Selection do the same. It does not cost anything to suggest it as a possible feature, and if it is implemented, it would expand the options for the users.

    Quote from walt.farrell

    Can you provide an example or two?

    If I make a selection and flood fill, it will respect the boundaries even if there is empty space to start with.

    If I make a selection, and brush over the canvas, it will be limited by the selection boundaries, even if there was no pixels on that layer before.

    If I have a selection, and add an adjustment layer, it will automatically create a mask based on that selection, no matter if there are pixels or not.

    If I have a selection and activate the Crop tool, the crop box will immediately be set to the edges of the selection, whether there are pixels or not.

    Edited once, last by Cassel (March 2, 2026 at 5:39 PM).

    Thanks.

    1. Flood Fill -- It's purpose is to write pixels on the canvas, and by definition it is limited to the selection area. It does not care whether there were pixels before, as it will be replacing them.
    2. Brushing -- Same as Flood Fill.
    3. Adjustment layer -- Good point.
    4. Cropping -- I hadn't noticed that.

    For anyone who might want to do this, I found a workaround but I sure wish someone can find a simpler method.

    1. make a selection from the segment you want to repeat
    2. copy the selection
    3. File > New from clipboard (this is to know exactly the dimensions of the "pixel area")
    4. on the "target" canvas, Pixel > New Pattern Layer
    5. choose a size that will include the gap where you want it, but the exact height or width of the segment you want repeated
    6. paste that segment on the canvas
    7. move it just on top of the pattern bounding box (centered on the canvas)
    8. merge down

    A bit convoluted, but it works. If there was a way to know the dimensions of the selection, it would save step 3 to "measure".

    Quote from Cassel

    If there was a way to know the dimensions of the selection, it would save step 3 to "measure".

    It's not enabled by default, but you can add the Measure Tool to the toolbar in Pixel Studio (or quickly switch to Vector Studio).

    Enable snapping, turn on Object snapping and check Snap to pixel selection bounds:


    You can then drag the Measure Tool across the selection to display its dimensions:

    MacBook Pro 2026 (16" M5 Pro); macOS Tahoe 26.2; Affinity Studio 3.1; Affinity Photo, Publisher & Designer 2.6.5

    1. What I do is create a square for the tile size I actually need. This is especially helpful to get around the Pattern size limitation which is fixed to 1024 in the New Pattern Layer... dialog box.

    2. Rasterize that square so it's a Pixel Layer and then use the Pixel > New Pattern Layer from Selection option... You can now erase all the contents of that tile to have your blank slate.

    3. Click the Pattern Layer so that you see where it is in the document (center). If you want a snappable reference for precision, you can create another square as a guide as it will snap to the borders of the Pattern Layer (tile).

    4. Create/Draw/Paste the artwork you want on another Pixel Layer on top. Or you could do something in vector and then rasterize it. Make sure it's exactly where you need it over the tile for your one Pattern layer.

    5. When you have the artwork you need placed where it should go (including with the side gaps) over the Pattern Layer, use Merge Down on the Pixel Layer and it will embed it in the tile. You can do this as many times as needed to create your final pattern as long it fits in the tile... (what doesn't fit will simply be chopped)

    Edited 3 times, last by debraspicher (March 10, 2026 at 3:17 AM).

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