View source for Create a Pattern - Wallpaper Borders

== '''Sims 3 Create a Pattern Tool: Pattern Placement for Wallpaper Borders ''' ==



== Level - Beginners/Intermediate/ Expert ==


The purpose of this tutorial is to create picturesque borders for your Sims wallpapers with the Create a Pattern program from Electronic Arts (CAPT).  It will give you a more in depth knowledge on how the placement of the "stickers" work.   Most of the patterns/pictures will look great on other Sims items. Although some borders may look plain by themselves they do look great when put together with other patterns.   Most of the materials used are images downloaded from the internet.  The variations within the border are endless so what I will do here is give you the boundries for the borders along with a few simple ideas to get you started.  

So let's begin and I hope you have fun.

== Requirements: ==

'''Create a Pattern''' [http://www.thesims3.com/game/tools/pattern]  Available free for registered Sims 3 game owners.  (The ''basic'' interface is explained in the help documentation found in the upper left hand corner under the "?")


'''A Graphics program'''

Adobe Photo Shop (pay) - or

Paint Net [http://www.getpaint.net/download.html#download] (free) - or

Gimp [http://www.gimp.org/downloads] (free)


'''Tutorial(s)'''


Carls Create A Pattern Tool Guide [http://www.carls-sims-3-guide.com/info/create-a-pattern.php] (recommended)

Seamless Textures [http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Tutorials:Seamless_Textures](recommended)

TS3 Patterns[http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Tutorials:TS3_Patterns]...Indepth tutorials for working with channels and layers that will take your creativity to new heights. (Optional)



== The Workspace and Measurements ==

let's get familiar with the work area first...

The inner middle square is your work area and measures 256 X 256 pixels.   
The wall repeat area depends on your pattern and its placement on the work area.
The area outside of the work area is also part of your pattern...it continues to the second half of the next panel of wallpaper.  
The sticker sizes are 58 X 58 pixels and can be resized from the smallest 1 x 1 (yeah barely visable) to 256 X 256 (the full work area).
The top 32 pixels across the top of the wall is the ceiling area. This does not show in CAPT but when in the game it does cut off the pattern on walls with ceilings.  The top portion does show when the walls are down. The cutoff is important when you are doing photoshoots. 

Placement specification is important in borders and can be achieved my using the w,h,x and y co-ordinates:

w = width of the sticker (height when your sticker is rotated 90 degrees...really through me for a loop when I first noticed it- I thought the whole tutorial was wrong!lol)
h = height of the sticker (width when your sticker is rotated 90 degrees)



x = horizontal placement of the sticker on the worksheet
y = vertical placement of the sticker on the worksheet 

A square multiple of 256 will create a great pattern but some of these borders are not placed in this range...we'll work arouns it. 

You can use a photo, graphic, clipart, windows wallpaper, actual wallpaper border images - basically any type of image. Downsizing an image will maintain image quality. Some really interesting effects can be had by using the rotation/flip and resizing features of CAPT. 


Always test your patterns to make sure they are seamless.  This is easily seen in the preview panel of CAPT...zoom right as close to the wall as possible to get a good look for any gaps or mismatched patterns. If it is not seamless something is wrong with your sticker. One reason could be that you still have an edge around the border of your original image,another that your original image or texture is not seamless (See the Seamless Texture tutorial). 

== Pattern Recognition and Placement on Walls ==

Once you have completed your pattern you will want to be able to identify it.  Heres' how - first of all take a look at the four corners of the worksheet in the illustration below. Each corner is a different colour and they are all the same size.

[[File:PatternTile.jpg]]

This is how that same pattern looks in the Create a Style (CAS) sample of your catalogue:

[[File:Pattern_Repeat.jpg]]

Note the placement of the tiles...The tile on the bottom right is now on the upper left!!  But at least now we know where to look for a paticular pattern. You can put an identifier (such as a small square of your border in the lower right hand corner (62x62)) if you aren't using the pattern for anythng else. 

==Wallpaper ==

These are the wallpapers we will be working with.  The full flat wall has been included in order to show the pattern repeat on the full wall. You don't have go through the whole tutorial if you are just interested in one border but there are some pointers along the way.

File:PanelNames.jpg


'''''Paint and Wallpaper - Flat Wall with Dado''''' 


This one is good for a photo, painting or single image just to use an example. You can use just any pattern combo in this one. To create the effect in the following illustration you will need a background colour or sticker.  For this one I used an image search for a square frame and another of a swan. If you are using a sticker for the background resize it to fill the entire middle square on the first layer as follows: 


Sticker Size:

w = 256
h = 256

Sticker Placement

x = 128
y = 128

Center your picture sticker on the first sticker or background colour using the next layer:

Sticker Size

w = 128
h = 128

Sticker Placement
x = 128
y = 128



[[File:Pattern1repeatCAP.jpg]]



Here is the finished pattern and a second example using just a background colour:


[[File:Pattern1repeatwall.jpg]]




'''Wallpaper:  Wall with Dado,Chair Rail,Trim & Baseboard Moulding'''


Here is a good demonstration of the co-ordinates of sticker placement.  This image is a actually a quilt pattern and of course looks beautiful for bedding as well.  In photoshop I put a line at the top and on the bottom, resized it to 256 x 256. 

In order to get the exact placement of the stickers - start with the first sticker in the upper left hand corner.  The co-ordinates are:

Sticker size:

w = 64  
h = 64  


Sticker Placement
x = 32  
y = 32  

To place the next stickers perfectly:

Sticker #2: add 32 to x = 64 and y remains 32.  
Sticker #3: add 32 to x to equal 96 and y remains the same. 
Sticker #4: add 32 to equal 128 and y remains the same.

For next row the y changes to 64 etc 


[[File:The_Sims_3_Create_a_Pattern16.jpg]]


Once complete your pattern fits beautifully within the constraints of the large portion of the wall:


[[File:Pattern16Repeat.jpg]]



'''''Border Frieze and Flat Wall with Border and Chair Rail''''

This is a 32 pattern repeat essentially( 8 accross and 8 down) but we're going to be doing a pattern here that serves several purposes on wall paper.
First the border on the top is a repeat of 8 across and two down. The top row is actually the ceiling cutoff. 

The first two rows have a sticker size of:

w = 32 and H = 32

starting placement is:

x = 16 and y = 16

spaced evenly across 8 times.
  
The next sticker is centered in the remaining space (if you place your sticker at x 128 it easy to center it from there :

Sticker Size:

w = 180
h = 156

Sticker Placement

x = 128
y = 160

[[File:Top_and_Friesecap.jpg]]

And here is the finished product:

[[File:Top_and_Friese.jpg]]



'''Top Border'''

This was one of the most diffcult borders to place correctly.  Basically the borders y position is 58.  The easiest option is to have a background texture or colour and then taking the cutoff measurement into account place your pattern withing these coordinates:

w = 48
h = 48

x = 24
y = 58

I used a intricate stripe wallpaper pattern (seamless) and made it wide for the background (128 x 128) then placed the same sticker within the co-ordinates overtop of the middle stripe. I repeated on the bottom half (not showing) so this pattern can now be used for other things.


[[File:Topbordercap.jpg]]

And here we go:

[[File:TopBorderwall.jpg]]
 

'''''Border 1 - In both paint and wallpaper'''''

Two stickers are used in this wallpaper because it keeps the image well in proportion.  These are Windows wallpapers that CAPT automatically resized from 1024 x 768...amazing! An identifier on the bottom right would be helpful on this one or you can fill in the surrounding area to make it look nice on other items.
  
Thank you to Leroysgirl for the co-ordinates:


Sticker size:

w = 128
h = 96



'''Border 2'''


This one overlaps the worksheet. I had Leroygirls help on this one too.  First we'll place the border at:

W = 256
H = 108

x = 128
y = 36



Anything can be placed within those constraints as with the other border areas.  To get equal placement the stickers are four across starting at:

w = 64
h = 64

x = 32
y = 36


[[File:Border2cap.jpg]]


and here it is:


[[File:Border2Wall.jpg]]


Next: 

'''Border with 3/4 Wall Placement'''

This is probably the most popular type of border.  I've this with Hello Kitty windows 7 wallpaper that CAPT resized to 256...works for me!

The sticker sizes are stretched a bit:

w = 128
h = 64

1st sticker placement:

x = 128
y = 145 

2nd sticker placement:

x = 96
y = 145

[[File:border1hellokitty.jpg]]

And the finished product and sample of a second border:

[[File:Border1wallHelloKitty.jpg]]

That concludes this tutorial, I hope you have a much fun creating with it as I had putting this together.

Disclaimer: - This tutorial is not endorsed by or affiliated with Electronic Arts, or its licensors. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. The Sims and The Sims 3 Logo are trademarks of Electronic Arts, Inc. Game content and materials copyright Electronic Arts Inc. and its licensors.