This tutorial is going to teach you how to install a pattern, from both a regular image (.png, .jpg and .gif etc) and also from a .pat format, and how to apply a pattern to a selection or document.

Installing a pattern from an image

Firstly I'm going to teach you how to install a pattern from an image, so open up the image that you are wanting to make a pattern from in Photoshop. For this tutorial the pattern that I am going to use is one from squidfingers.com which is below.



Now go Edit > Define Pattern, and name your pattern whatever you want, I named mine 'example pattern'.

Installing a pattern from a .pat format

Secondly I'm going to teach you how to install a pattern from a .pat format which is the Photoshop format for the patterns. So get your .pat file and put it in your Photoshop > Presets > Patterns folder.

Now go Edit > Preset Manager, Preset Type: Patterns. Now click on Load (should come up as default where your patterns are, otherwise go to your Photoshop > Presets > Patterns folder), select the pattern and click Load.

Filling an area with a pattern

Lastly I'm going to show you how to fill a selection (or entire document) with a selected pattern. So lets create a new document sized 300x150px. Go Edit > Fill..., Pattern, and select your pattern. Below is how mine has ended up.