Tileable Textures

Tileable pattern created with NprTools

Tileable Textures

NprTools includes an algorithm borrowed from Paul Bourke's Article for making patterns tileable.

Any pattern can be converted into a Tileable Texture.

Process

Original Pattern

Original pattern

The algorithm starts with a patterns. It does not need to be repeatable, or even kind of repeatable. The process works best with patterns which you would like to repeat, such as cloth or grass. However, it will make any image repeatable.

For this demonstration we have selected a swirl pattern which is originally not repeatable at all.

Diagonal Reversal

Original Pattern with the quadrants mirrored

A second image is created by mirroring each of the 4 quadrants of the original image.

By blending the original and the reversed image, you get an image which is reversible.

In this case the reversed pattern is discontinuous at the center. This is the same way the original pattern would have looked if you had used it as a texture in SketchUp without making it tileable.

Blending Mask

Radial mask.

Either a linear or a radial mask is applied to smooth and blend the two patterns.

Try both masks to see which has the best effect on your pattern.

Linear mask.

Blended Images

Blended image with radial mask.

Both blended images have imperfections. However, the original pattern was not very repeatable.

Blended image with linear mask.

Textures in SketchUp

Radial masked pattern being tiled in SketchUp

Although the original pattern was not very repeatable, the new patterns tile well in SketchUp.

Linear masked pattern being tiled in SketchUp

Another Example

Sketchy Textures

Wavy lines drawn in SketchUp with diagonal lines and a Sketchy Edge style

Here we took an image of lines with Sketchy Edges and turned it into a tileable pattern.

Not much change was needed because the line were fairly regular. Some Sketchy Edges change position and width more and would need this technique more.