So you want it all? You have come to the right place!
From the e-desk of Tara Reed,
Licensed Artist
(Portland, Oregon)
Dear Fellow Artist,
Let me share a quick story.
July 2005. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...
I was just getting serious about licensing my art. I had exhibited at Surtex in May. Woo-Hoo! I had a new deal!
A fundraising company wanted to use 3 of my patterns (not just 1 but 3!) for wrapping paper. This was exciting!
“Can you put the patterns in repeat?” they asked.
Oh dear… now we are heading into the tough spot. I wanted the job and I wanted them to find me easy to work with so they’d look at my art again. So I SO WANTED to be able to do repeats.
But the truth of the matter was this: I had invested a sizeable chunk of change in the professional version of Photoshop™ but didn’t know how to use 2% of its features.
I openly admitted that I was a danger to myself and others at times, I had “on the job” training, never having taken the time to take a class. At that time, I had 3 ways that I was learning:
- I learned what to do with the program by clients telling me what they needed me to know.
- I learned by making mistakes and therefore making cool, timesaving discoveries.
- I bought a book and would look things up as I got frustrated and befuddled.
The designer working with me was kind enough to explain a few pieces of the repeat puzzle, but it wasn’t working every time. Sometimes it would and sometimes there would be this weird gap in my images. Neither of us could figure out why.
I discovered that yelling at my computer in frustration didn’t really help – it just startled my son. Pleading with it didn’t work either.
The book I bought sat by my side taunting me: “You’ll be up and running in no time!” I was not!
So… I got creative.
(It’s what we do, right?) I called all the art schools in my area until a guy who answered the phone turned out to be a Photoshop™ guru and he was willing to
be hired by the hour. 
This wonderful man came to my house. He listened to my problems. He looked at my computer. He grabbed the keyboard and said, “Oh. You just need to do this that and the other and you’re good.
No sweat!”
Why wasn’t “this that and the other” in my book? Why couldn’t I find it online? Why were people keeping this information to themselves, like you had to belong to some special club with a secret handshake to be ‘in the know’? So now I had the basics and I got the project done. I am still proudly using the paper. I especially enjoy using the pink purse toss for my brother’s birthday gifts.
Like an old Kenny Rodgers song…
the repeat pattern skills have served me through the years. (and no, they’ve never let me down!)
Fast forward to 2008 – I’ve learned more and honed my basic repeat skills. Some by trial and error, others as bits of wisdom whispered in my ear by clients, others by sheer accident.
I have noticed that others, maybe you, seem to have the same frustration with this process. Why isn’t it easy to find and easy to follow? Got me!
But guess what – there is hope because now… you’ve got me!
For every collection I create to license, I have icons, repeat borders and repeat patterns. I have found this to be a flexible and marketable way to build my business and keep my clients happy.
I DO THIS EVERY DAY… so I know it works.
I’ve stopped saying, “I should get organized and show people how to do this” and I’ve gotten busy and put together a very visual, step by step guide.
So I ask again –
WHO ELSE WANTS TO CREATE REPEAT BORDERS AND PATTERNS, WITHOUT HAVE TO SIFT THROUGH EVERY FEATURE,
FILTER AND FUNCTION OF PHOTOSHOP™?
If you are on the edge of your seat, sit back and relax because I have everything you need, right here! If you need no further information but are chomping at the bit –
This is a set of two digital books so you get them immediately and can enjoy it on your computer, iPad, Kindle and more - anything that can read a pdf!
So what is the big deal about half-drop repeats anyway?
Isn't it enough to be able to create a basic repeat pattern? Being able to provide patterns in repeat will give you a competitive advantage over artists who can't. Whether you need to learn this next step just depends on how much of an advantage you want.
This is a basic repeat pattern. You set up a square that repeats like basic tile laid side by side on a bathroom floor.
If you have ever purchased a new house, you know builders love to entice you with upgrades. Perhaps this type of tile is included in the base price of the house.
But if you want tile with a more interesting layout, it takes a little more time and it will cost you.
This is how a half-drop repeat pattern spreads out across a paper, fabric or other product.
If you have an inquisitive mind and want to know more, keep reading.
The First Book includes... Table of Contents
What to expect from this eBook…
Step 1: “Use soap behind your ears!"
Create Clean Icon Files with no Background
Step 2: “Clean up your Act!”
Clean up your Icons and Fix Anything you don’t like
Step 3: “Borders are in Order”
Create a Repeat Border from LayersStep 4: “Tossing and Turning the Night Away”
Create a Simple Toss Pattern in RepeatStep 5: “Repeat after me…”
Three Easy Ways to use your Repeat Patterns
The Sequel includes...
Table of ContentsPart 1: A Quick Review of Repeat Patterns
Some Things Bear RepeatingPart 2: Setting Up Your Document
A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way...Part 3: Repetition is the Mother of All Patterns
It's Time to Put Your Designer's Eye to WorkPart 4: To Half-Drop, Quarter-Drop or Third Drop...That is the Question
It Depends on What You Are Repeating... That is the Answer
What you’ll get:
Both books combined give you a comprehensive,
88 page, step-by-step guide, complete with Photoshop™ screen shots, showing you how to go from scanned image to repeat borders. Master basic repeat patterns and the half-drop techniques will fall into place.
Pull-down menus and shortcuts are shown through-out the guides.
This book is designed to give you concise steps for specific results – not broad knowledge. Your time will be spent learning what you need to know… period. That means more time for your art.
By purchasing both eBooks today, the price of $87 represents a $17 saving over purchasing each book separately. I don't think anyone is complaining about saving money these days!
This is a set of two digital books so you get them immediately and can enjoy it on your computer, iPad, Kindle and more - anything that can read a pdf!
Ready?
A few freebies for good measure …
- Buy now and receive a free Photoshop file with scanned icons
(shown to the left) so you can start trying the techniques right away. No need to find and scan your own art, use these simple icons to get started.
- 8 Great Photoshop™ Short-cuts– all the tools and shortcuts used in the eBook
in one convenient place. Keep it by your computer for quick-reference.
- Confused by Printers? -- Andrew Darlow of inkjettips.com has created an audio explanation of printer basics and a printer selection checklist to help you determine what type of printer is best for you.
TESTIMONIALS
Don't just take my word for it. Here is what others are saying...
"Tara's Basic Repeat Borders and Patterns eBook is an easy, comprehensive book that is invaluable to the Licensing Artist. This book takes the artist through simple step by step processes using the Photoshop™ program, to turn simple images into useful repeat patterns and borders. I personally have been in the licensing arena for years and thought I knew Photoshop™ quite well, until I read and utilized Tara's tutorial.
I was thrilled to learn so many time saving tips using PS tools that I never knew existed! Even the simplest of Photoshop™ tutorials in the market are often hard to grasp but with Tara's fun sense of humor, step by step explanations and illusrations, it was a breeze to develop accurate borders and repeats.
A two thumbs up for this eBook. I highly recommend it to all Licensing Artists and designers."
~ Barb Tourtillotte
Artist, Designer, Licensor
Barb Tourtillotte Illustration
www.turtlecrossings.com
"Tara's tutorial on fabric repeats unlocked the mystery for me! It's easy to get through and is presented in a very friendly manner. In addition to the great repeat information, I picked up some excellent Photoshop tips that simplified things I've been doing the long hard way all these years, which was an unexpected bonus!"
~ Jill Seale, Artist, Author, Licensor
www.JillSeale.com
"I LOVE your tutorial on repeats for photoshop-- what a great investment and I encourage any artist who needs this valuable skill to check out your E-book
because it turned on the lightbulb for me! : >
Look forward to more of your tutorials Tara."
~ Gaby
Artist
"I can't believe how easy your "repeat" instructions are. I can't thank you enough. I'm already very proficient in PhotoShop so got it right away. I had previously purchased a $600+ program that was SO daunting and intimidating I never got thru it!! ARG! And yes, I'm doing 1/2 and 1/3 drops, etc!!"
Again, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
– Kathleen Francour, www.kfrancour.com
"Artists, Rejoice!, and save endless hours of trial and error unraveling the mysteries of Photoshop. Tara Reed is your answer with her new E-Book on Icons, Patterns & Borders that leads you step by step, with a delightful and easy to follow writing style, through some amazing discoveries and techniques that will accelerate your knowledge and ability to create marketable images for Surface Design. I highly recommend learning from this successful Designer who is willing to share the inside scoop."
~ Susanne Fitzgerald,
SF Designs
"The Basic Repeat eBook is great! Today I really got into it...this is expanding my abilities and I am excited about what I can do with this. Thank you for putting this together...it is so worth the money."
~ Vickie, Artist
"I took a crack at it today and I LOVE the instructions you've shared. Thank you. I really look forward to working this way more fluidly in the future. So far so good. I've already learned tidbits well worth the investment."
~ Pam Luer, PamLuer.com
