FILTERiT 5: Live Tiling

[ Index ] [ Live Effects in General ]

Live Tiling creates rows and columns of copies of the original selection. You can apply Live Tiling to a single object, multiple objects, groups. By default, copies will be created to the right and up from the original. You can specify changes in size and rotation for the copies.

Original object can be edited, and the effect will automatically update.

Example:

From sample file live_tiling_01.ai (Artboard 1)
  1. Create a new document (set Units as Points) from “Illustrator > File > New…” menu.
  2. Select “Illustrator > Window > FILTERiT5 > Live Tiling” menu. “FILTERiT5: Live Tiling” panel will open.
  3. On the document’s artboard, draw a rectangle using Illustrator’s “Rectangle Tool” and set Width to 30 pt, Height to 10 pt, Fill Color to Red and Stroke to none.
  4. Select the rectangle.
  5. From the panel menu (located on the upper right corner), select “Default Settings”.
  6. Click “Apply” button on the panel.
  7. Select panel space setting as “Absolute Space,” set “Horizontal” to 3 pt and “Vertical” to 3 pt.
  8. Check “Random Scaling” option in “Offset and Scaling” group.
  9. Change settings on the panel by referring to the following paragraph.
  10. Continue to “Mask to Align Pattern” option below.

Setting items:

Columns x Rows
Specify the number of columns to align tiles in the vertical direction and the number of rows to align tiles in the horizontal direction.

Relative Space / Absolute Space (Group Box)
Specify horizontal and vertical space between tiles in relative value (%) or absolute value.

Checkerwise
Align tiles in a checkered pattern.

Offset and Scaling (Group Box)
Select direction of offset and scaling in “Horizontally” or “Vertically.”
If “Cumulatively” is not selected, the offset for tiles will be created alternately based on the value set in “Offset.” If this option is selected, offset will be in stepwise.
If “Random Scaling” is selected, each tile will randomly scale up or down within specified range.

Mask to Align Pattern
In order to save as Illustrator’s Pattern in “Swatches” panel, a clipping mask for the positioning purpose needs to be created.
The example for this option is explained below. It is continued the example from the above.

  1. Check “Mask to Align Pattern” option.
  2. Check “Offset” option and enter 100. The random scale will be specified in a horizontal direction, and random offset occurs on each row within specified offset range.
  3. Check “Mask to Align Pattern” option. Object’s top, bottom, left and right end will be masked based on the position of joint.
  4. Select “Illustrator > Object> Pattern > Make…” menu. Illustrator’s 'Pattern Editing Mode’ starts and “Pattern Options” panel will open.
  5. On Illustrator’s “Pattern Options” panel, set “Tile Type” to “Grid”, and check “Size Tile to Art” option. Tile objects will stick together in clip region. That is it for using a short clip.
  6. Uncheck “Size Tile to Art” option.
  7. Select editing object.
  8. Select “Illustrator > Object > Clipping Mask> Release” menu. This will make the short clip to release.
  9. Click “Done” on the upper left of the document window and exit 'Pattern Editing Mode.’
    Pattern from Live Tiling has been saved in Illustrator’s “Swatches” panel. Let’s use this Pattern.
  10. Create an ellipse on document’s artboard using Illustrator’s “Ellipse Tool.” Set Width to 300 pt and Height to 200 pt.
  11. Select Fill Color of Ellipse to the Pattern that has been saved in Illustrator’s “Swatches” panel.

    From sample file live_tiling_01.ai (Artboard 2)

Fluctuation (Group Box)
(Assuming specified value is F) From the range between -F to F, “Offset H/V,” ”Size H/V,” and ”Angle” can be applied to tiles to create scattering effect.

To... (Group Box)
Tiles align proportionally on each column according to the horizontal scale and rotation angle of the leftmost column specified by “Scaling H(%)” and “Rotation H(°).”
Tiles align proportionally on each row according to the vertical scale and rotation angle of the topmost row specified by “Scaling V(%)” and “Rotation V(°).”
If “Resize Spaces” is checked, scaling value will be added proportionally to the space between columns and rows.
“Stacking H” and “Stacking V” determine how neighboring overlap.
“Stacking H“ specifies whether tiles stack on top or bottom to the rightward direction.
“Stacking V“ specifies whether tiles stack on top or bottom to the upward direction.

Live Update
Updating the Artboard while you work can result in slow screen redraw times, especially when Live Tiling is creating a high number of copies. Unchecking Live Update leaves the selection unchanged until you click the Apply button. When checked, Live Update will automatically apply the Live Tiling settings as you make changes.

Expand/Release/Apply
The Expand button creates individual objects from each of the intermediary steps created by Live Tiling. The objects will be grouped. The Release button removes the Live Tiling effect. The Apply button applies the current settings to selected objects.

Panel Menu
The Panel menu is accessed by clicking the icon in the upper right corner of the panel.
You can reset the panel setting to 'Default Settings' or name the current settings and save as the preset menu.
For how to use the preset menu, please refer to 'Preset Menu.’