How to Create a Seamless Halloween Pumpkin Pattern in Adobe Illustrator

Which vegetable do we associate with Halloween? Of course, it is a pumpkin with a scary carved face, also known as a jack-o'-lantern.

In this tutorial I am going to show you how to create a Halloween pumpkin pattern in Adobe Illustrator using basic shapes, the Pen Tool, and the Pattern Tool.

If you would like to skip the tutorial, you can just purchase the result as a part ofmy23 Halloween Seamless Patternspackage. And if you're looking for moreHalloween patternsinspiration, you can find some over onGraphicRiver.

1.How to Set Up a New Document

First we need to set up aNew Document(File > NeworControl-N) with these settings:

• Number of Artboards:1
• Width:1200
• Height:1200
• Units:pixels

From theAdvanced tab:

• Color Mode:RGB
• Raster Effects:Screen
• Preview Mode:Default
• UncheckAlign New Objects to Pixel Grid

2.How to Create a Halloween Pumpkin

Step 1

Let's start building a pumpkin from a280 x 255pxellipsemade with the help of theEllipse Tool (L). Set the Fill color to default white and the Stroke color to default black, changing the Stroke weight to 4 px.

Add two narrower ellipses inside the first one.

Step 2

Take the Rectangle Tool (M) and create an18 x 45 px rectangle with the same default colors and stroke weight of 4 px.

Select the figure and double-click theRotate Tool (R)to open theOptionsmenu. Set theAnglevalue to45 degreesandpressOK.

Step 3

Choose the angled rectangle and select theReflect Tool (O). Holding theAltkey, click on the middle of the shape. In theReflectwindow, set theAxistoVerticalandpress theCopybutton, getting a mirror copyof the angled rectangle right over the first one.

Step 4

Holding downShift, select both figures that we created with theSelection Tool (V). Use theUniteoption on thePathfinderpanel, merging them into one shape. It is going to be the eye of the pumpkin face.

Place the eye on the left side of the pumpkin and create a mirror copy of it on the right side using the Reflect Tool (O) method.

Step 5

Let's continue adding details to the pumpkinby creating a35 x 52 pxrectangle. Choose theAdd Anchor Point Tool (+)and click in the middle of the bottom edge of the rectangle, adding one more anchor point.Deletethe left and right bottom anchors with theDeleteAnchor Point Tool (-), getting a triangle shape.

Step 6

Select the bottom anchor with the Direct Selection Tool (A) and use the Live Corners feature to make the corner rounded by dragging the circle indicator to the center of the shape, setting the corner radius to about4 px.Then slightly round the top anchors using the same method.

Add a small ellipse to the top of the triangle-like figure, forming the pumpkin stem. Group (Control-G) all the objects together and place the stem on the top of the pumpkin.

Step 7

With the help of the Pen Tool (P), add a crooked mouth to the pumpkin face.

Step 8

We should make some color changes to prepare our pumpkin for pattern making. Change the Fill color of eyes and mouth to black and the Stroke to None.

Set the fill color of the head and the stem to #231F20.

Step 9

Choose all the pumpkin parts and go toObject > Expand.Check theStrokeoption, and uncheck theFilloption, pressingOK.Our strokes will transform into filled shapes.

Step 10

Select all shapes and go to thePathfinderpanel using theDividefunction. The artwork gets cut into small pieces. (1)

Double-click on the Magic Wand Tool (Y), uncheck all options except the Fill Color option, and click on any black part of the pumpkin. Press Delete, getting all the black pieces removed. (2)

Choose the orange parts of the pumpkin and use the Unite option on the Pathfinder panel, merging all the small pieces into one shape. (3)

The pumpkin is ready!

3.How to Create a Pumpkin Pattern

Step 1

Select the pumpkin head and go toObject > Pattern > Make.In thePattern Options, setthe size to1200 x 1200 px. Rotating and copying, spread a few pumpkin heads inside the blue outline, leaving empty spaces between them.

Step 2

Fill up the remaining space with more pumpkin heads, rotating them and varying their sizes to create a balanced composition.

Then press Doneon the upper panel. The pattern will appear in the Swatches panel (Window > Swatches). You can edit it any time by just double-clicking on its thumbnail to open the Pattern Options window.

Step 3

Build a1200 x 1200 pxrectangle, which we will fill using#BD6B21for the background, and align it to the Artboard.

Create another1200 x 1200 pxrectangle. Keeping it selected, go to theSwatchespanel (Window > Swatches) and press on our pattern thumbnail.

Step 4

You can easily change the size of our pattern by going toObject > Transform > Scale.Then choose onlyScale Patternand set it to70%.

In Options, check only the Transform Patterns option, leaving other options unchecked. Then press OK.

Happy Halloween Celebration!

Our pumpkin pattern is ready. Great job!

You can use your imagination and create complex patterns by adding more Halloween symbols and details.

This pattern is only a part of my23 Halloween Seamless Patternspackage, and if you need even moreinspiration, you can find some over onGraphicRiver.

I hope you enjoyed the process and learned some new tips and tricksthat you can use for creating patterns in future. Feel free to share your results in the comments below.