Preparation

Creating a centre square

To create a centre square design, complete the following steps.

Important: at the end of step 4, save your new document. Give it an appropriate name and save it in a suitable location. Then save your document after each of step until your design is completed.

(Optional) Open the practice template (prac_template.jpg) in the graphics program you want to use. You do not have to use the template.
The template is useful when using a graphics program, such as Adobe Photoshop, which includes layers. Refer to the Guide to creating the design in Photoshop.
Open a suitable digital image in the graphics program. When selecting an image, consider:
1. contrast
2. colour
3. shapes and patterns
4. what it tells about your site.
Select and copy an area of the image (at least 200 x 200 pixels) that you think is interesting.
Insert the copied selection into the template (or new document) and adjust.
1. If you are using the template, replace one of the four squares. In Photoshop you can do this by selecting the square you want to replace then selecting ‘Paste Into’ on the Edit menu. Refer to the guide to using Photoshop for more information.
2. If you are not using the template, paste the copied area into a new document that is twice as wide and twice as high as the area you copied. Position the image in one corner of the document canvas.
3. Adjust the image size and position if necessary. For example, you may want to:
  1. resize the image
  2. crop the image
  3. move the image to a different position on the canvas.
4. Save your document.
Replace the other three sections of the template with a copy of the first segment. You must copy the image again if you adjusted it.
Paste the image three times to fill the other three quadrants of the window. If you are using the template, replace the other three areas of the template using the same method you used with the first segment.

Align the images carefully.

Important: If you are using a graphics program which does not treat each segment as a different object (for example, by placing each one on a different layer) you will need to flip each segment (step 6) before pasting the next one.
Select and then flip three of the sections (horizontally and/or vertically) so that all images mirror each other. One of the segments remains unflipped. You may need to realign the images.
Experiment with keeping the original, unflipped image in different segments. Consider how this changes the pattern.

Don’t forget to save your document.