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Learn how to make a checker pattern in Photoshop. In this guide I will walk you step by step on how to create a seamless pattern in Photoshop.

Setting up your Checker pattern

Open Photoshop and click to create a new document. For this tutorial I use the dimensions 400 x 400 px with resolution set to 300 dpi, RGB color mode and transparent background.

To create the square we are going to use the rectangular marquee tool. In the top menu make sure fixed size is selected for style and enter the dimensions 200 px for width and height.

Click on the canvas and selected pixels will appear. Next fill this area with your foreground color black. The default settings for Photoshop is black as foreground and white as background color. If your colors are not the default click D on the keyboard and it will revert back to the default colors. Click opt + delete (Mac) or alt + backspace (PC) to fill the selected pixels in with the foreground color. Deselect the pixels hitting cmd/ctrl + D.

Orient the square on your canvas. You can always use the move tool and drag it to the upper left corner of the canvas or you can use the help of keyboard shortcuts. Access the marquee tool (M – keyboard) and select all (cmd/ctrl + A). Use the move tool (V – keyboard) and in the upper menu use the align tools to align to the top vertically and to the left horizontally.

Duplicate the layer by right clicking on the layer in the layers panel and select duplicate layer or use cmd/ctrl + J (keyboard shortcut).

All pixels are still selected so you can use the align tools to align this new rectangle to the bottom vertically and to the right horizontally.

Now that all rectangles are properly positioned hit cmd/ctrl + D to deselect the area.

To save your checker pattern in Photoshop go to Edit > Define Pattern.

Testing your pattern

Open up a new document the size of digital scrapbook paper 3600 x 3600 px, 300 dpi with transparent background.

In the bottom of the layers panel select to create a new pattern fill layer. Select your newly created checker pattern. When the pattern fill dialogue box is open you have the option to rotate and scale your pattern. If you click on the canvas you can even reorient the pattern. If you want to get back to the original just click Back to Origin.

To change the color of your pattern create a new color fill adjustment layer about your pattern fill layer. Right click on this layer and select create clipping mask. The pattern will take on the color. Add an additional color fill layer below the pattern layer to change the color of your pattern.

To export and save your pattern as digital scrapbook paper go to File > Save a Copy. Give you file a name and then change the file type to JPG.

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