Meet Repper
🧠 What you’ll learn
- Why Repper is a good option for practicing pattern design
- Other pattern-making solutions and how they compare
Many tools in the process are optional, but one is not: the one you make the patterns themselves with.
Luckily, this may be the easiest choice. About 5 years ago, Alexander and Wouter (that’s me 😊) built Repper. It’s super-easy to get going with. Best of all, you can start for free to see how you like it.
If you prefer to use another design tool, that’s fine too. I’ll discuss some alternatives at the end of this chapter.
What’s Repper, exactly?
Repper is a nifty pattern design tool:
- Perfect for practicing
And more than capable for production too
- Runs in the browser
No install, works anywhere
- Helps to keep your patterns organised and safe
Private cloud storage built-in
You can try it out while you do this masterclass, as you get 2 weeks unlimited access for free!
Why it’s great for learning
Some people draw patterns by hand with pen or computer, creating a repeatable tile like this:
It’s a versatile and powerful way to make patterns, but not ideal when you’re just getting started:
- It requires good drawing skills
- Most of all, it’s a slow process
We want to iterate, experiment, and have fast learning cycles. With Repper, you construct patterns from existing images, either your own or sourced elsewhere.
That process looks something like this:
You don’t need to get your scissors out, because Repper does the hard work for you and makes you the creative director 😊 Here’s what that looks like in action:
Conveniently online
Repper runs in your browser and that has big benefits:
- No install needed: No installation files, never a need to update your software
- Always a backup: Your data is stored safely in the cloud, in case your computer breaks or gets stolen
- Access from any computer or tablet: Want to design on tablet and export on laptop? No problem. Show your designs on a friend’s computer? Easy peasy.,
Open www.repper.app/design/ and you’re ready to go. Here’s what it looks like:
Keep your work organised
In Repper you save and manage your designs in collections. There is no limit to collections, so go wild 😉
Each collection has a bunch of your designs that you can review, favorite, … and export of course!
💁♂️ Learn all about collections in our Help Centre
We’ll get to creating and managing collections later in the course. Already curious, visit our help articles View Collections and Manage Collections.
Alternative tools
Repper is not the only pattern tool out there. Here are a few others.
(Click toggle to read more)
(Click toggle to read more)
Adobe Photoshop
Has various patterning options, though feels a bit clunky these days (we made this video comparing Photoshop methods with Repper).
Adobe Illustrator
Good if you already know how to use it, otherwise a steep learning curve. Lacks many pattern features Repper has.
Artlandia SymmetryMill
Most similar to Repper, but a desktop app that doesn’t seem to be maintained any longer.
AI pattern generators
Don’t use these. Apart from copyright risks, they are not good tools to learn about pattern design (we made this video about the pros and cons)
May I strongly recommend Repper?
Sure, I’m a tad biased, but using Repper during this masterclass is the smart choice:
- Minimal learning curve
Focus on learning about patterns, not complex software
- Seamlessly works with this course
All demos are done in Repper
- Simple but powerful
Not just for beginners, for pros too
- Free for 2 weeks
And you can actually still use it to practice after the trial end
In the next chapter, we’ll show you how to get started with Repper and create your first pattern. Ready? Let’s go!
🔑 Key Takeaways
There are various ways to make patterns and a range of software options to support your creativity. Repper is unique in that you can pick it up instantly, but has the depth to also support you as you develop your pattern-making skills.