by Don Herion

Creating a seamless background can be a daunting task. In many cases you can use the 'Convert to Seamless Pattern' command but that will not work well in some cases. This is especially true for a complex image like the one below.

1) My choice is an image of M & Ms at 200 pixels x 150 pixels. I generally try to create my tiles using identical heights and widths. I also use even numbers. So I 'cropped' my image down to 150 x 150.

2) I'm going to use a similar procedure that worked in Photoshop. Since PSP does not have an 'offset' filter command I have to do this manually. I first turn on my 'grid' with 'snap to grid' on. I set the grid size to be 75 pixels (one half of 150 pixels).

(1) Image after cropping	(2) Remember to use 'snap'

3) Now go - Selections - Select All. Copy the image (Ctrl-C). Turn off 'Layer Visibility Toggle' for background. This will aid your image offsetting. Then go - Edit - Paste - In New Layer. This pastes a copy of the M & Ms in a new layer. Use the 'Mover' tool to shift the image down and to the right, snapping the upper left corner into the center. Go - Edit - Paste - In New Layer - again. Now do the opposite. Drag the image up and to the left, snapping the lower right corner into the center. Do this twice more. If you are confused follow the layout below. Once you are finished go - Layers - Merge - Merge All.

(3) Manually offset 4 copies of M & Ms to this configuration

(4) Results of offsetting

5) There are two ways to remove the internal seams. The first is to use the 'lasso' tool to select several of the M & Ms then copy and paste them over the seams in a random pattern. Another is to use the 'Clone' brush. For those familiar with Photoshop, it works just like the 'Rubber Stamp' tool. Zoom in to 3:1 to get close. Now select the 'Clone' brush from the tool palette. Its corresponding option palette appears. For this particular project I chose a round shaped button, about the same size as a full M & M. I gave it a 'hardness' of 35. This will soften the edge of the brush (100 gives you a hard edge).

(5) Clone Brush Tool

6) To select a source image place the cursor over part of the image you wish to clone. I chose a green M & M first. Now - right click once - or - press the - Shift - key. Once you hear the beep you have taken your sample. Test it over a seam. You should see a green M & M. There may be some fluff around the edge but when you zoom out most of that will be lost. If you don't like the results edit the size and softness of your brush and resample another area. Add M & Ms along the seam. Resample other colored M & Ms and continue. Remember to be very careful around the outer edges of the image. If you go over them the image will not seam properly.

(6) Zoom close to work those seams

7) When you think you are done Save and test the image. Here are the results of my efforts.