Seamless Texture Helper Plugin

[BoltBait 2,446]

What is the hardest part of creating seamless textures? Yes, making sure they look natural when they repeat. The usual problem is that no matter how hard you try, the seam is usually clearly visible.

I thought that it may make it easier if you work on the edges first (in the middle of the canvas), then move them to the edges of the physical canvas.

I know this probably sounds strange, but just take a look at the instructions section below for a better explanation.

You can download the precompiled effect DLL here: SeamlessHelper.dll

Just drop this file in your /program files/Paint.NET/effects directory and you should be all set.

Instructions for Use

The best way to use this is to follow these steps:

1) Create a canvas that is an even width and even height. For example, 200 x 200. It is critical that you do not use odd dimensions--they can be different (like 200x100, etc.) just not odd.

2) Start creating your texture by focusing on the middle of the canvas. Do not place anything too close to the edges at this point.

I will be creating a repeating texture of American coins. Here you can see this step:

Notice that I am only concerned about covering the area marked in red. Do not include red lines, they are only here to illustrate the area that I'm trying to cover.

By the way, I found all the images of these coins by using Google Image Search. I made this composite image by using several layers and liberal use of the Feather plugin.

3) Flatten your image down to a single layer.

4) Run the Seamless Helper effect. Your image should now look like this:

Notice how the coins have been moved to the edges. Your texture now has seamless edges!

To illustrate this more simply, take a look at this image (before on left, after on right):

The effect DLL basically splits your image into 4 parts
and rearranges those parts as show above.

5) Now finish off the center of the image being careful to again stay away from the edges. I'll just add 3 quarters to the picture:

6) Save the file in your favorite format (GIF, JPG, or PNG).

That's it! You have created a seamless texture!

You can quickly test these by putting it on your desktop and chose the "tile" option.

Once you've made a seamless texture, the next thing you'll need is the photo flood fill plugin. 8)

Source Code

The codelab script is fairly straight forward:

void Render(Surface dst, Surface src, Rectangle rect)
{
    PdnRegion selectionRegion = EnvironmentParameters.GetSelection(src.Bounds);
    Rectangle selection = this.EnvironmentParameters.GetSelection(src.Bounds).GetBoundsInt();
    int CenterX = (int)(((selection.Right - selection.Left) / 2)+selection.Left);
    int CenterY = (int)(((selection.Bottom - selection.Top) / 2)+selection.Top);
    ColorBgra CurrentPixel;
    int srcX = 0, srcY = 0;
    for(int y = rect.Top; y < rect.Bottom; y++)
    {
        for (int x = rect.Left; x < rect.Right; x++)
        {
            if (selectionRegion.IsVisible(x, y))
            {
                srcX = x;
                srcY = y;
                if (x < CenterX)
                {
                    srcX += CenterX;
                }
                else
                {
                    srcX -= CenterX;
                }
                if (y < CenterY)
                {
                    srcY += CenterY;
                }
                else
                {
                    srcY -= CenterY;
                }
                dst[x,y] = src[srcX,srcY];
            }
        }
    }
} 

[barkbark00 3]

I could see this being very helpful

[TinSoldier 0]

I don't understand step 4 very well; you just added some more coins to your image on different layers? Is that correct?

[BoltBait 2,446]

I don't understand step 4 very well; you just added some more coins to your image on different layers? Is that correct?

Yes, after step 3 there is a big white space in the center of my drawing... So I added 3 quarters to the picture to finish it off.

[crazyasslatino 0]

thank god u made this! i always wanted something to make a tile background but never comes out right

[kirby145 2]

Wow how did you do that it's like magic

[MadJik 963]

Madjik would have say : logic!

[shaun1ee 0]

Not to worry, I managed to sort it

Thanks MadJik for the reply anyway

[Enormator 2]

WOW I'm proud of me... and you

biiig thanx dude!

(Made this pic only with effects (like noise, median blur, emboss... and YOUR EFFECT))

I also got a better one but didn't find it on my hdd. I'll add it later... maybe :wink:

[MadJik 963]

http://paintdotnet.12.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?p=48707#48707

From a request/idea on another topic...

To make a texture at once, I make an average with Source+Destination.

Test the code with CodeLab:

void Render(Surface dst, Surface src, Rectangle rect) 
{ 
 PdnRegion selectionRegion = EnvironmentParameters.GetSelection(src.Bounds); 
 Rectangle selection = this.EnvironmentParameters.GetSelection(src.Bounds).GetBoundsInt(); 
 int CenterX = (int)(((selection.Right - selection.Left) / 2) + selection.Left); 
 int CenterY = (int)(((selection.Bottom - selection.Top) / 2) + selection.Top); 
 ColorBgra PixD,Pix1,Pix2; 
 int srcX = 0, srcY = 0;

 for(int y = rect.Top; y < rect.Bottom; y++) 
 { 
   for (int x = rect.Left; x < rect.Right; x++) 
   { 
     srcX = x; 
     srcY = y; 

     if (x < CenterX) srcX += CenterX; 
     else srcX -= CenterX; 

     if (y < CenterY) srcY += CenterY; 
     else srcY -= CenterY; 

     Pix1 = src[srcX,srcY]; 
     Pix2 = src[x,y];
     PixD = src[x,y];
     PixD.R = (byte)((float)(Pix1.R + Pix2.R + 0.5f)/2.0f);
     PixD.G = (byte)((float)(Pix1.G + Pix2.G + 0.5f)/2.0f);
     PixD.B = (byte)((float)(Pix1.B + Pix2.B + 0.5f)/2.0f);
     PixD.A = (byte)((float)(Pix1.A + Pix2.A + 0.5f)/2.0f);
     dst[x,y] = PixD;
   } 
 } 
}

Edit: correction of a bug :oops:

[MadJik 963]

http://paintdotnet.12.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?p=48707#48707

From a request/idea on another topic...

To make a texture at once, I make an average with Source+Destination.

Test the code with CodeLab:

void Render(Surface dst, Surface src, Rectangle rect) 
{ 
 PdnRegion selectionRegion = EnvironmentParameters.GetSelection(src.Bounds); 
 Rectangle selection = this.EnvironmentParameters.GetSelection(src.Bounds).GetBoundsInt(); 
 int CenterX = (int)(((selection.Right - selection.Left) / 2) + selection.Left); 
 int CenterY = (int)(((selection.Bottom - selection.Top) / 2) + selection.Top); 
 ColorBgra PixD,Pix1,Pix2; 
 int srcX = 0, srcY = 0;

 for(int y = rect.Top; y < rect.Bottom; y++) 
 { 
   for (int x = rect.Left; x < rect.Right; x++) 
   { 
     srcX = x; 
     srcY = y; 

     if (x < CenterX) srcX += CenterX; 
     else srcX -= CenterX; 

     if (y < CenterY) srcY += CenterY; 
     else srcY -= CenterY; 

     Pix1 = src[srcX,srcY]; 
     Pix2 = src[x,y];
     PixD = src[x,y];
     PixD.R = (byte)((float)(Pix1.R + Pix2.R + 0.5f)/2.0f);
     PixD.G = (byte)((float)(Pix1.G + Pix2.G + 0.5f)/2.0f);
     PixD.B = (byte)((float)(Pix1.B + Pix2.B + 0.5f)/2.0f);
     PixD.A = (byte)((float)(Pix1.A + Pix2.A + 0.5f)/2.0f);
     dst[x,y] = PixD;
   } 
 } 
}

Edit: correction of a bug :oops:

[barkbark00 3]

When I run that I get the following error:

[barkbark00 3]

When I run that I get the following error:

[MadJik 963]

When I run that I get the following error:

I've changed this line so often, but I forgot to update the post!

Done!

TY

[MadJik 963]

When I run that I get the following error:

I've changed this line so often, but I forgot to update the post!

Done!

TY

[MadJik 963]

Seamless texture Maker

http://paintdotnet.12.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=5334

[R3VENGE 1]

this will help in my ut2k4 map textures. before i had pdn i just used paint and everything was out of place. now i can put it into line

[jimjimmy1995 0]

I've been doing this manually grr this makes life easier.

[heartofdestany 0]

One question, Where in the menus is the option to use this?

I installed the plugin but can't find where it is accessed in order to use it.

Any help here would be most appreciated, thank you in advance.

[sashwilko 443]

One question, Where in the menus is the option to use this?

I installed the plugin but can't find where it is accessed in order to use it.

Any help here would be most appreciated, thank you in advance.

You will find it in the Effects menu, just scroll down after clicking the Effects tab 

Edited April 3, 2014 by sashwilko

[dustinechoes849 0]

This is friggin' magic. Thanks!

[sunmaggot 20]

 

Spent 1 hour to create this. I used the plugin to create different tiles that can link together in all combinations. The grid is so subtle that it is almost hidden!!

 

Thank you very much for the plugin!!!

[LionsDragon 819]

@sunmaggot, wow, it looks like panne velvet! Excellent use of the plugin!

[sunmaggot 20]

@LionsDragon It is grass 

[LionsDragon 819]

Well then it is the softest, most luxurious grass I've seen in some time! I envy your characters for getting to walk on it.