In photoshop select the image that you want to make a pattern and then go EDIT > DEFINE PATTERN it will open a new window were you'll name your pattern, then go to the image you want to fill with the pattern, make a selection of what you want then create a new layer and go EDIT > FILL, on the new window select "PATTERN" and voila you will have your selection filled with the pattern you made ;)

awesome, so i could make a silhoutte image in illustrator, put it in photoshop and then fill that silhoutte with a pattern in photoshop?

In Illustrator, use the "mask" option, I believe.
Pick a pattern that's got a larger area than the outline, select the pattern and the outline and find the mask option. (I have an old version of illustrator at work, so I don't know if it's in the same place.)

I was wondering the same thing.
I'm glad somebody askedand answered this. =]

a clipping mask in illustrator perhaps? that's the closest thing to "mask" i could find. also, how do you guys make your patterns. the ones arzie uses are so technical and evenly spaced, almost looks like he could've made it but with the use of some tools in illustrator or something, idk.

in Illustrator you can grab any number of paths and drag them into the swatches palette. You can then apply that 'swatch' to a path and it will make a pattern of what you put in there (to scale).

Depending on the version of Illustrator that you're working with there will be some limitations (paths with gradients, etc... might not work) but if you're using CS2 then it looks like anything goes.

The following plugin for Illustrator also has a really cool patterne maker that makes kalidoscope patterns from paths you've made... it's worth checking out the demo:

http://www.cvalley.com/products/xtreampath/

I'm sorry I posted what to do in PHOTOSHOP, in Illustrator you can make a drawing and then go EDIT > DEFINE PATTERN, then you name it, the Pattern will be added to your SWATCHES so you can use it on any shape, good luck.

great, thanks for the feedback everyone! i just have one final questions (yes i know i'm annoying).

how do some of you go about making your patterns. i mean if i were to make a symbol such as a, idk, a skull, and i wanted to make it symetrical and evenly spaced is there certain steps i should go about doing that, to make them all evenly spaced.

i'm going to use arzie as an example again just cause he's the man.

<a href="http://www.threadless.com/submission/19136/eighty_one_gemini">take a look here</a>

in that link, the chicken's thought bubble has little chickens evenly spaced almost making it look like arzie created those symbols and made the pattern. making the symbol is the easy part...i just need to know how to make them evenly spaced and such (or maybe it's much easier than i thought and i should use guidelines). hopefully someone can help me out, i'd owe you my life!

thanks,
heyhaigh

oops no html sorry...


http://www.threadless.com/submission/19136/eighty_one_gemini

You can use your ALIGN/DISTRIBUTE pallet to space items out evenly.
It also helps if you use a grid (VIEW -> SHOW GRID).

I typically start with a 1"x1" square, make a pattern out of shapes, put the 1"x1" sqaure behind the pattern (make sure there is NO stroke on it), and then the entire pattern, hold down your option key & drag it to the swatches pallet.

If you want to slighty alter your pattern, again hold down the option key and pull it up from the pallet...alter it, option drag back into the old swatch & it will update the pattern on your art.

sorry...
* and then SELECT the entire pattern

Yep, I also do what mezo said, Align is a great tool to use in those cases :D

Oh...If you want to make the shapes within your pattern larger or smaller, simply select the area which contains the pattern, double click on your scale tool- in the menu, under OPTIONS click on the pattern, and scale as you wish.

awesome thanks a bunch mezo.