SymmetryShop 2, pattern design tool

Artlandia has released SymmetryShop 2 a significant revision to its Adobe Photoshop plug-in. The tool is a companion of Artlandia SymmetryWorks, which provides a similar functionality in Adobe Illustrator. The plug-in creates both interlocking patterns and patterns based on simple geometric regions, possibly with smoothed away boundaries. Both surface patterns and borders can be generated. SymmetryShop patterns remain fully editable and allow unlimited iterations and refinements in multiple Photoshop sessions. The new version adds support for smart objects and offers new ways to design patterns: smart objects, introduced in Photoshop CS2 and enhanced in Photoshop CS3, allow the designer to make patterns from any combination of source layers, including vector art.

Users can now also create all-over, tossed, composite, and other repeats, and generally nest SymmetryShop patterns by using one pattern as a source for another, and generate an essentially unlimited variety of other pattern types.

In addition, this release supports text and other vector shapes, fill layers (filled with a solid color, gradient, or pattern), as well as layer and vector masks applied to all types of layers. Masks allow the user to isolate (mask) parts of the seed layer that should not be used in the pattern. The autorun feature, which is available in Photoshop CS3, allows the designer to edit the seed layer in one window while viewing the updated pattern in another window.

Artlandia SymmetryShop 2 requires Photoshop 7 or later version. Photoshop CS2 is recommended for using smart objects and Photoshop CS3 for autorun. The download-only version of the plug-in costs US$300 or US$450 in a value package with Artlandia SymmetryWorks 4.

Filed under: Graphics/Web Design