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Chevrons are a fun trendy style. In this tutorial I will show you how to create a Chevron pattern using Adobe Photoshop.

How to Create a Chevron Pattern

First create a new document. For this example I use the dimensions 2400 x 1200 px where the width in twice the height.

Next divide your canvas in two with the help of a guide. To create a new guide go to View > Guides > New Guide. Enter 50% next to the vertical guide option.

With the marquee tool (keyboard shortcut – M) draw out a rectangle on the left side using the middle guide as a stopping point. Fill these pixels with your foreground color by hitting Opt + Delete (Mac) or Alt + Backspace (Windows). After the pixels have been filled you will need to deselect the area by hitting Cmd or Ctrl + D to deselect the pixels.

With this square layer right click in the layers panel and select convert to smart object. Duplicate this layer (keyboard shortcut – Cmd or Ctrl + J) and drag it to the right side of your canvas.

Double click on the layer icon to access your smart object. This should open up a new tab with your smart object. With the square layer you can turn off the visibility by hitting the eye icon in the layers panel. This square was just a placeholder. Next access the line tool. The line tool is nested under the shape tools in the tools menu.

Click on the bottom left corner and draw out a diagonal line. To constrain your line to the 45 degree angle hold down the shift key as you draw your line.

Next change the fill to no fill and set your stroke color to black with a stroke width of 400 px for this example.

To make it a seamless repeat you need to duplicate your diagonal line and add it to the top left and bottom right corner. Before duplicating the diagonal line, in the layers panel right click and select convert to smart object. It is always a good idea to convert it to a smart object before duplicating a layer.

After you have converted it to a smart object go ahead and duplicate the layer twice (keyboard shortcut – Cmd or Ctrl + J). With the first duplicate we are going to move it to the top left corner. In the video above it demonstrates the next step using the offset tool, but you can also do it with the Free transform tool.

To move the diagonal line access the free transform tool. Go to Edit > Free Transform (keyboard shortcut – Cmd or Ctrl + T).

In the top menu in the X and Y value boxes change the values to zero. This will position your line in the upper left corner of your canvas.

Repeat this process for then second duplicate. This time you will want to enter the value 1200 for the X and Y position. This will position your diagonal line in the bottom right corner.

You can now save your smart object (Cmd or Ctrl + S) and close this tab (Cmd or Ctrl + W).

Currently you should see diagonal lines. To make the chevron pattern you need to select the layer that was the object positioned on the right of the canvas and go to Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontally. This will cause the diagonal lines to change to change and create the chevron pattern.

How to Save your Pattern

To save your pattern go to Edit > Define Pattern. You can also save your pattern from the patterns panel. To open the patterns panel go to Widow and select patterns. In the bottom of the patterns panel you will notice a plus icon. When you click the plus icon it will save your pattern swatch.

Testing Your Pattern

One way to test your pattern is by using the Pattern Preview tool. To access this tool go to View > Pattern Preview. Photoshop will extend your canvas and expand your pattern both vertically and horizontally outward in both directions. If you zoom out (Cmd or Ctrl + the minus key) you can see your pattern in a smaller scale. To turn off pattern preview mode just go to View > Pattern Preview.

I like to test my patterns by opening a new document the size of digital scrapbook paper – 3600 x 3600 px.

From the layers panel create a new pattern fill adjustment layer. Select your newly created pattern from the drop down or select it from your patterns panel. When you double click on the patten fill layer you can adjust the scale of your pattern.

To change the color of your patten I like to use a solid color adjustment layer. Position this below your pattern for the background color and then duplicate this layer and select a new color. Positional this color fill layer above your pattern and then right click and select create clipping mask. Your pattern layer will then take on the color of this layer. You can now easily change the color of your pattern.

Easily Make Changes to Your Line Thickness

Because we set up our document using smart objects you can easily change the thickness of your lines if you want to save another pattern swatch with a different thickness. Click back into your smart object and then click into the smart object for your diagonal line. Here you can adjust the stroke width to a smaller value.

After changing the stroke value you need to save your smart object (Cmd or Ctrl + S) and exit out of your smart object (Cmd or Ctrl + W). This will bring you back to the diagonal lines which all three instances should have been updated to the new line thickness. Save this smart object and close it.

Define your new chevron pattern swatch with thinner lines by going to Edit > Define pattern.

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How to Create a Chevron Pattern Using the Wave Filter

Photoshop is a powerful graphic design tool and has a lot of hidden features that you might not know about. One of these features is the Wave filter. Check out the video below where I show you how to use the wave filter as another way to create a Chevron pattern in Photoshop.

If you are new to creating patterns in Photoshop then check out our complete guide to creating patterns in Photoshop.

more Photoshop Pattern Tutorials