Artlandia SymmetryShop 2 is Photoshop plug-in that creates symmetrical patterns in no time.
Author: Geetesh Bajaj
Product/Version: PowerPoint
Adobe Photoshop is no specialized application to create symmetrical patterns unless you want to slave hours creating repetitive layers, and aligning them carefully with the skill of a mathematician. And even then, you might create something that needs to be edited, and you need to start all over again!
Artlandia SymmetryShop 2 is a cool Photoshop plug-in that creates symmetrical patterns in no time.
SymmetryShop 2 is from Artlandia, and it works from within Photoshop's File | Automate submenu (not the Filters menu). Artlandia is an Illinois, USA based company that creates graphic design software to create patterns. They also sell the actual patterns.
SymmetryShop 2 is a new version of the same plug-in that we reviewed in the past. The updated version has several new and improved features.
Other than SymmetryShop 2, Artlandia's other product is SymmetryWorks, a similar add-in for Adobe Illustrator. You can learn more about Artlandia at their site.
The new features in SymmetryShop 2 are:
With SymmetryShop 2, Smart Objects (available in Photoshop CS2 and later versions) can be used to create patterns. You can create complex vector art in Adobe Illustrator CS2, place those objects in Adobe Photoshop, and apply the SymmetryShop 2 plug-in to create great patterns.
You can combine as many image layers as you like in a Smart Object, and use the object as the seed layer of your SymmetryShop patterns. The source layers remain completely independent, and you will still be able to replace, edit, transform, or otherwise rearrange the elements, then rebuild the pattern with a single click.
You can use Smart Objects to create patterns from elements that are scattered over the repeat area and keep similar elements linked to each other. Later, you can rotate, flip, and scale copies to achieve a more organic and natural look.
Now you can combine elements of two or more symmetry types to create a composite repeat. First create a SymmetryShop pattern using a Smart Object. This pattern will consist of a few tiles or just a single tile. Add other design elements if you wish and use the Smart Object as a seed for another SymmetryShop pattern. By nesting patterns this way, you can generate virtually any type of patterns, while keeping all components separately editable.
You can create patterns from text or other vector shapes and fill layers (filled with a solid color, gradient, or pattern). Text can be edited as well.
With SymmetryShop 2, you can apply Photoshop's layer and vector masks to isolate (mask) parts of the seed layer that you do not want to use. SymmetryShop will then build a pattern from the remaining (unmasked) areas. Edit your masks with the familiar Photoshop tools and rebuild at any time.
You could have always run SymmetryShop as a Photoshop Action. With the new version, you can play the action automatically and keep editing the source image in one window while viewing the updated pattern in another window.
SymmetryShop 2 automatically adjusts the image canvas as required according to the pattern created.
Other conveniences in SymmetryShop 2 include the automatic selection of non-transparent pixels in the seed layer, the ability to lock (fully or partially) the seed layer, and convenient zoom buttons in the SymmetryShop palette.
Here's how you can create symmetrical patterns using this Photoshop plug-in.
Figure 5, shows a smart object and the sample pattern created from a shape using SymmetryShop 2 in Adobe Photoshop.
Figure 5: A shape and a pattern
The figures below show some more patterns created with SymmetryShop 2:
Photoshop Versions: | PhotoShop 7 or CS through CS3 (CS2 or later recommended) |
Platforms: | Windows, Mac |
Site: | Artlandia |
Price: | $321.00 (CD-ROM with printed user guide) $295.00 (download only) |
Trial Version: | Available |
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This is the original page. An AMP (Accelerated Mobile Page) version of this page is also available for those on mobile platforms, at Artlandia SymmetryShop 2.
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