This tool helps you to create seamless patterns for textile printing such as fabric and wall-covering.

To use this option, enable the [Enable Step and Repeat] checkbox. You can create repeats and offsets of an image. (Figure 1)

There are the following options in this tab:

• Output Size - This option allows you to set [Width] and [Height] for repeating your textile design image that you desire. Use up and down arrow button or manually input [W] and [H] values.
  • Fill media width: This feature makes the pattern fill the media width based on page size. Check this box when you want to put your pattern edge to edge. (Note: When using Fill media width, you will still need to define the height for the Step and Repeat job.)

• Origin Offsets - This option allows you to set spaces between the repeating images. Use up and down arrow button or manually input [X] and [Y] values. [Offset] does not affect [Size] or [Count] values.
• Horizontal Repeats / Vertical Repeats – These options allow you to set the desired number of repeats for horizontal and vertical.
  • Horizontal Repeats/Vertical Repeats – These options allow you to set the desired number of repeats for horizontal and vertical.
    • Gap: Set the gap space between the repeating images. Use up and down arrow button or manually input the value. By default, the images on the right overlap the image to the left and images on the bottom overlap the image to the top. You can also set a negative value for swapping the direction of the overlap.
    • Flip Alternating Repeats: This allows you to flip, or mirror every other horizontal row and vertical column.
    • Swap Overlap Direction: This allows you to swap the direction of the overlap. Images on the left will overlap the image to the right and images on the top will overlap the image to the bottom.

    (NOTE: These controls are enabled only when the [Gap] is a negative value.)

  • Pattern Offsets – There are two Pattern offsets. Use the drop down menu to choose the desired Pattern offset.
    • Brick/Horizontal Offset: This allows you to set an offset for every row by selecting a predetermined percentage, or by specifying a custom value
    • Drop/Vertical Offset: This allows you to set an offset every column by selecting a predetermined percentage, or by specifying a custom value.

    (NOTE: [Brick] and [Drop] can't both be active at the same time.)

  • Gap Color - This option allows you to select a specific solid color that is placed between each for horizontal and vertical repeat. There are three options: [First Pixel], [White], [Custom…]
    • First Pixel: Select [First Pixel] sets the [Gap Color] to be the color of the top-left pixel in the image.
    • White: Select [White] sets the gap color to be white.
    • Custom: Select [Custom] will display the “Gap Color” dialog which you can set the [Gap Color] in image color space. Clicking the palette button to the right of the combo box will display the “Custom Color” dialog. Clicking the eye-dropper button will enable you to choose a color by clicking directly on the image.
  • Render Resolution – This option allows you to select the intermediate rendering resolution of the PDF file before it is used as the pattern in the Step and Repeat job. You can select [Low/Fast (200 dpi)], [Normal (300 dpi)], [High/Slow (400 dpi)] from a down arrow menu.

  (NOTE: These controls are enabled only when the [Gap] is a negative value.)

• Pattern Offsets – There are two Pattern offsets. Use drop down menu for choosing your desired Pattern offset and set between images offset.
  • Brick/Horizontal Offset – This allows you to set one to offset every row by selecting a predetermined percentage, or by specifying a custom value.
  • Drop/Vertical Offset - This allows you to set one to offset every column by selecting a predetermined percentage, or by specifying a custom value.

  (NOTE: [Brick] and [Drop] can't both be active at the same time.)

• Gap Color - This option allows you to select a specific solid color that is placed between each repeat for horizontal and vertical. There are three options: [First Pixel], [White], [Custom…]
  • First Pixel: Select [First Pixel] sets the [Gap Color] to be the color of the top-left pixel in the image.
  • White: Select [White] sets the gap color to be white.
  • Custom: Select [Custom] will display the “Gap Color” dialog which you can set the [Gap Color] in image color space. Clicking the palette button to the right of the combo box will display the “Custom Color” dialog. Clicking the eye-dropper button will enable you to choose a color by clicking directly on the image.
• Render Resolution – This option allows you to select the intermediate rendering resolution of the PDF file before it is used as the pattern in the Step and Repeat job. You can select [Low/Fast (200 dpi)], [Normal (300 dpi)], [High/Slow (400 dpi)] from a down arrow menu.

(NOTE: A higher resolution results in a slower ripping speed, while a lower resolution results in a faster ripping speed.)