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Technical stuff

Symmetry pattern tool
On this page

Overview

A radial symmetry applied to finished work.

icon/patterns_symmetry

The Symmetry pattern tool repeats the content of the current layer in a circular pattern around the center point. The number of copies range from 1 to 100.

Symmetry pattern toolbar

(Learn more below).

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3
2
1

Original image

Symmetry pattern tool works better on smaller, isolated fragments than on full-canvas images.

2

Center point of the symmetry

It always appears at the center of the canvas but you can move it around.

3

The copies

Note that the number of the planes set on the toolbar equals the number of copies plus the original.


The Symmetry pattern can be also generated from a selection. Learn more about using selections in the Selection tools chapter.


Options

Have fun playing with them: all in real time.

1

icon/cancel

Cancel

closes the tool without applying changes.

2

Number of planes slider

Note that the number of planes equals the number of copies plus the original. So, theoretically, value “1” indicates no pattern whatsoever.

3

Fan angle slider

Value 100% means full circle; any lower percentage limits the pattern to a circular sector.

4

icon/reflect

Reflect toggle

Adds a reflected copy of the pattern. Works best with the Fan angle below 50% (180°)

The Reflect mode offers a separate Angle slider that controls the angular position of the reflected copy.

5

icon/confirm

Confirm

Closes the tool applying the changes.


Examples

5 planes:

16 planes:

>100 planes:

16 planes, 50% fan:

16 planes, 50% fan, Reflect on:

In the Reflect mode you can rotate the reflected pattern both with the control handle and with the Angle slider on the toolbar.

16 planes, 50% fan, Reflect on; angle 60º:


Tip:

with the Fan angle below 100% and low number of planes you may wish to use an odd number of planes for more symmetrical pattern.