In this quick tip, you will learn how to create a pineapple seamless pattern in Adobe Illustrator. We will be using basic shapes, Warp effects and the Pattern > Make option to create this trendy pattern.
This tutorial is designed for beginners, so it is very easy to recreate. If you want some inspiration as well as motivation, then check out GraphicRiver, especially their collection of patterns.
And now, let’s start!
How to Create a Pineapple Pattern
Step 1
I assume you have already opened up Adobe Illustrator and
created a new document with 850 px Width and Height.
First, we want to create the tiny segment that
makes up most of the pineapple. Delete the stroke color if you have one, and set the fill color to R=239, G=177, B=3.
Then take the Rounded Rectangle Tool
and create a very small rounded rectangle. Probably by default you have
the option that when you draw a small rounded rectangle, it has very rounded
corners, and the more you stretch it, the sharper the corners will
be. If not, try to adjust the corners of your rounded rectangle by
dragging them inside by using the Corner Widget (View > Show Corner Widget).
After you’ve created the shape you need, we want to rotate it 45 degrees. Hold the Shift button and rotate the rounded rectangle using the Selection Tool (V). The Shift button allows you to rotate it exactly 45 degrees.
Don’t take off the selection, but create a new copy in front (Control-C, Control-F). Change the color of the new copy to R=255, G=200, B=32.
Step 2
Then draw a circle with any fill color, which should overlap the two rounded rectangles as shown in the image below, on the left side of the rounded rectangle. To create an even circle, hold the Shift button while creating it. Don’t be confused by the black strokes as I drew them just for better visibility—you don’t actually need them.
Next, hold the Shift and Alt buttons together and move the circle to the right. You’ll notice that you just created a new copy of the circle which is perfectly aligned. Now, select both circles, but not the rounded rectangles, and unite them: press the Unite button on the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder).
And the last action you need to do is to select the united circles (which are now one shape), and select the upper copy of the lighter rounded rectangle. Finally, press the Minus Front button on the Pathfinder panel. The tiny segment is ready!
Step 3
Now that you have a segment of the pineapple, we want to multiply it. While pressing down on the Shift and Alt keys, and while using the Selection Tool (V), move the segment to the right.
Then press Control-D a few times to get a line of these segments. The Control-D combination repeats your last movement.
Make sure your Smart Guides are on: View > Smart Guides. Then select the whole segment line and move it down and diagonally. The Smart Guides will help you to place it evenly. Now you have two segment lines.
Select the two segment lines and, while holding the Shift and Alt buttons, move the lines down. Just straight down. Press Control-D a few more times, until you get a rectangle from the segments.
Step 4
It is very important to group the whole segment rectangle (right-click > Group).
While keeping it selected, go to Effect > Warp > FishEye. In the new dialogue window, enter the options you see below. Press OK, and set it aside.
Step 5
Next, we want to create the pineapple shape. Start with a rounded rectangle (fill color R=204, G=130, B=0) with very rounded corners. Use the Rounded Rectangle Tool for it.
While keeping it selected, go to Effect > Warp > Inflate. In the new dialogue window, enter the options you see below. Press OK. Expand the shape: select it and go to Object > Expand Appearance.
Step 6
Take the two elements you created so far: the pineapple shape and the rectangle made of segments. Place them one over another, as shown in the image below. Be sure that the pineapple shape is smaller than the rectangle that is completely made of segments. Also make sure that the two elements are expanded.
Then select the pineapple shape, and make a copy of it in front (Control-C, Control-F). You created a copy directly in front of it, but we want to have this copy in front of the rectangle made of segments. So cut the copy (Control-X), and place it in front of the segments rectangle.
While keeping the two upper shapes selected, press the Crop button in the Pathfinder panel.
Step 7
Let’s add some leaves to our pineapple. Draw a green ellipse (R=48, G=158, B=131) using the Ellipse Tool (L).
Take the Anchor Point Tool (Shift-C) and click on its top and bottom anchor points. They will become sharp.
Create a copy of it in front (Control-C, Control-F), make the copy smaller and darker (R=1, G=107, B=87), and shrink it down.
Step 8
Group the leaf (right-click > Group), and create a new copy of it, because we want to have two leaves.
Select the new copy and warp it: Effect > Warp > Arc. Enter the options you see below and press OK. Now, expand the shape (Object > Expand Appearance).
So now you have two leaves:
Step 9
Place the straight leaf behind the pineapple. Then, place the warped leaf behind the pineapple, on the left side.
After that, take the Reflect Tool (O) and, while holding down the Alt key, click in the middle of the pineapple. In the new dialogue window, enter Axis Vertical, Angle 90 degrees and then press Copy. That’s how you’ll get the third leaf.
Make sure the leaves stay in the middle of the pineapple, and then create a copy of them behind (Control-C, Control-B). Shift the three new copies up, and make them a bit smaller. Change the fill color of the new leaves to R=0, G=133, B=106 (you can leave the inner, darker part unchanged). The pineapple is done!
Step 10
Let’s create a background for our pattern. We’re creating it separately—that’s why you can easily change its color later.
Hit the Rectangle Tool (M) and click on your artboard. In the new dialogue window, enter 850 px Width and Height. Change the fill color to R=249, G=226, B=112.
Step 11
Select your pineapple, and go to Object > Pattern > Make. You’ll get a look which will be something similar to the one below.
Enter the options you see below. The most important parts here are the options Brick by Column and Move Tile with Art, but other options will be different than mine. Feel free to play around with them and choose what you like the most. When you like how your future pattern looks, press the button that says “Done” (it’s located over by the Pattern Options window).
After that, you can safely delete your pineapple, because it’s already stored in the memory of your computer.
Step 12
After using the Rectangle Tool (M), click on your artboard again and enter 850 px Width and Height. Place the new rectangle in the middle of the artboard.
From the Swatches panel (Window > Swatches), choose your new pattern. And watch the magic!
Awesome Work, You’re Done!
And you are all done! I hope you enjoyed creating this seamless just as much as I did. If you want to keep on drawing but don’t know what to draw, then check out Graphic River. They have a huge selection of images and patterns.
As you can see, it is not that hard to create amazing images in Adobe Illustrator. I really hope you liked this tutorial and I will see you next time!
If you enjoy pattern tutorials, I’d like to recommend two I’ve created here on Envato Tuts+:
