Affinity Designer is the best software for creating repeat patterns

I tested out creating seamless repeat patterns in Affinity Designer on my iPad for years now. I was so happy with the ease of use and the outcome results that I even released 4 Affinity Designer online courses for pattern designers. I believe that there is no better software for repeat pattern design - Affinity really offers it all. And in this article I would like to share my good reasons for switching from Procreate to Affinity Designer.

Affinity Designer shows you the repeat in real time

This alone is a game changer for me personally. Not only are your able to see exactly what you are building in your interface, but also all of the elements that you are using don’t get “cut off” the way they do in Procreate. That means that if you have to place your pattern element outside of the main canvas, it will not disappear, it won’t get cut, it will stay as it is.

I used to create repeat patterns in Affinity Designer using the Live Preview Tool, but I switched to the automated patterns with symbols method. I compared the two methods in another blog post, which you can check out here: “Automated Pattern Templates vs. Live Pattern Preview Tool in Affinity Designer“. Below you can see two examples from my Affinity interface, one for the diamond repeat template and another one for the half-drop repeat template:

I have created automated pattern design templates for most of the popular repeat types: half-drop, standard, brick, diamond, ogee, scallop etc. Some of them are available via my FREE resources library here on my website.

Affinity lets you create reusable assets

I love using my vector assets so much, I create an 3-hours class about it :) “Affinity Designer Basics: Vector Assets for Surface Pattern Design”. I also wrote an extra knowledge blog post about how assets help me in my work as an illustrator to be faster and more efficient: “Affinity Designer Assets: My Favorite Productivity Boost“. In simple words, assets are design elements (vector or raster) which can be saved to your device and then opened and used in another project. Such a huge time changer! So I have the habit of saving up every little element that I think I might reuse one day, and sooner or later it really becomes handy to have it.

Lately I’ve been working on my fantasy and space assets: friendly monsters, shooting stars, wonky planets. I also save up my hand-drawn clothes mockups as assets and I can reuse them to show my pattern designs, have a look:

Affinity Designer lets you combine vectors with raster

I use it more and more in pattern design and in general illustration. Affinity enables you to switch between the Designer and the Pixel persona = it’s a 2-in-1 software! This handy feature gives you more flexibility when drawing patterns. You can for example start with a vector base and later on add some extra shading with pixel brushes.

All in all, it is such an easy drawing experience! I’m a big fan :) If you are looking for a supportive community of pattern designers who are using Affinity Designer or who are also just learning it, then I’ll see you in our Facebook Affinity support group: Affinity Designer for Surface Pattern Design.

Happy creating!