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How to create a polka dot pattern in Photoshop


If you like dotted patterns, this tutorial is perfect for you because I’ll show you exactly how to create a polka dot pattern in Photoshop. This is also a great opportunity to learn how to make patterns in Photoshop in general—with a nice, non-intimidating example!

How to create a polka dot pattern in Photoshop

Step 1

Create a New File with 250 x 250 px dimensions.

create a new filecreate a new file

Step 2

Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color. Use #f7c92a for the color—this will be the background for our polka pattern.

select yellow colorselect yellow colorselect yellow color
yellow filled camvasyellow filled camvasyellow filled camvas

Step 3

Take the Ellipse Tool (U) and set Fill to white. This will be the color of the polka dots.

set fill to whiteset fill to whiteset fill to white

Step 4

Click somewhere in the canvas and set the dimensions to 100 px for both Width and Height. Click OK, and press Enter when the circle appears.

create an ellipsecreate an ellipsecreate an ellipse

Step 5

Take the Move Tool (V) and click the three dots button in the upper bar. Set Align to Canvas, then click Align horizontal centers and Align vertical centers. This will center the circle inside the canvas.

set align to canvasset align to canvasset align to canvas
align the centersalign the centersalign the centers
centered ellipsecentered ellipsecentered ellipse

Step 6

Press Control-J to duplicate the ellipse. Then press Control-T and add 125 to both X and Y in the upper bar.

use the transform tooluse the transform tooluse the transform tool
move ellipse to the rightmove ellipse to the rightmove ellipse to the right
use transform tool againuse transform tool againuse transform tool again
move ellipse downmove ellipse downmove ellipse down

Step 7

Do this again (duplicate and transform), but this time subtract 125 from both values.

move ellipse to upper left cornermove ellipse to upper left cornermove ellipse to upper left corner

Step 8

Repeat the same step, this time adding 125 to X, and subtracting 125 from Y.

move ellipse to upper right cornermove ellipse to upper right cornermove ellipse to upper right corner

Step 9

And one more time—do this the opposite way, subtracting 125 from X and adding 125 to Y.

move ellipse to lwer left cornermove ellipse to lwer left cornermove ellipse to lwer left corner

Step 10

You can now go to View > Pattern Preview to see what your pattern looks like. This lets you change something and see the effects in real time. For example, you can double-click the Color Fill layer and experiment with other color backgrounds. This will allow you to create a red polka dot pattern, the kind you’d see on a classic red polka dot dress. You can also resize the pattern now with Image > Image Size without losing quality.

When you’re happy with your pattern, go to Edit > Define Pattern and name your pattern, for example Yellow Polka Dot.

create new pattern in photoshopcreate new pattern in photoshopcreate new pattern in photoshop

Step 11

You can now add this pattern to any file by going to Layer > New Fill Layer > Pattern and selecting your polka pattern from the list.

how to add a pattern in photoshophow to add a pattern in photoshophow to add a pattern in photoshop

What are polka dots?

Now you know how to create a pattern in Photoshop—specifically, a yellow polka dot pattern. By the way, you may recognize this print, but what are polka dots, actually?

Polka dot pattern description

A polka dot pattern, or simply polka pattern, is based on a series of repetitive dots placed on a contrasting background (for example, a black and white polka dot pattern is very popular). In the classic version they’re identical, but they may also have various sizes. Polka dot patterns have been widely used in fashion for decades, and they’re often associated with a playful, retro vibe.

Famous examples of polka dots

The most famous example of this print is the red polka dot dress of Disney’s Minnie Mouse. Polka dot dresses were a also staple of 50s fashion, worn by icons like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. Today, Kate Middleton proves the timelessness of the polka dot pattern with her polka dot dresses. This pattern has also been immortalized in Brian Hyland’s Song “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” from 1960.

And now you can use this queen of dotted patterns in your own designs, too!

polka dot pattern photoshop final resultpolka dot pattern photoshop final resultpolka dot pattern photoshop final result

If you want to learn more about creating Photoshop patterns, check out these tutorials:



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