Build Your First Repeat Pattern in Affinity Designer

In this post, you’ll how to create your first seamless repeat pattern in Affinity Designer — the app that has been a total game changer for my process! This beginner-friendly tutorial walks you through everything from sketching motifs to vectorizing your designs and making them perfectly repeatable. Perfect for surface designers, illustrators, and anyone new to Affinity Designer on iPad—or just looking for a fun new process to refresh your creative routine!

Watch the Tutorial

If you’re a see it on “paper” person, keep reading below. 

Otherwise, check out this quick video tutorial in my new iPad Art Break Series on Youtube:

HELPFUL LINKS

The Steps

1. Set Up Your Workspace

  • Create a new 3000×3000 px document in Affinity Designer.
  • Choose RGB at 300 DPI for optimal print quality.
  • Switch between the Designer (Vector) and Pixel personas to sketch and build your design.
Affinity Designer Repeats 01 Set Up Your Workspace
Affinity Designer Repeats 02 Sketch Your Motif

2. Sketch Your Motif

  • Use the pixel brush tool to sketch a simple motif like leaves, swirls, or geometric shapes.
  • Experiment with Art Nouveau-inspired designs or create your unique style.

3. Vectorize Your Motif

  • Switch to the Designer persona to convert sketches into vector shapes.
  • Utilize tools like the Pen Tool, Pencil Tool, or Shape Tool to create precise elements.
  • Adjust nodes and curves to refine your design.
Affinity Designer Repeats 03 Vectorize Your Motif

4. Build and Edit Your Design

  • Combine and merge shapes using the Add/Subtract functions.
  • Duplicate and flip parts of your motif to create symmetrical designs.
  • Adjust node handles to smooth sharp angles and refine curves.

5. Create a Background and Add Details

  • Add a background layer using the Rectangle Tool.
  • Use vector shapes matching the background color to add intricate details like veins or embellishments to your motif.
Affinity Designer Repeats 05 Create a Background and Add Details

6. Assemble the Repeat Pattern

  • Duplicate and position motifs to fill the edges of your canvas.
  • Use Affinity Designer’s snapping tools to align elements perfectly for a seamless repeat.

7. Test Your Pattern

  • Export your design as a JPEG or PNG.
  • Re-import it and duplicate it multiple times to ensure the pattern repeats seamlessly.

8. Experiment with Color Versions

  • Create bold and vibrant variations of your repeat pattern.
  • Save different versions for print-on-demand platforms or licensable collections.

make it professional!

Come learn my whole process for making repeat patterns that attract clients and licensors in my FREE Affinity Foundations class:

FREE Affinity Designer Foundations

  • Learn how to vectorize your patterns so you can scale them to any size
  • Create professional patterns that licensors ask for in any file format that you need
See the Class