Making and Saving Patterns with Photoshop

1. First, get a pattern that you want to save. If you want to make your own, it doesn't matter what the size is but make sure that it repeats properly. I cannot stress that fact enough, if it breaks at the edge of the image it'll look bad. (By the by, it's easy to see if it works, just copy it and paste it in Paint over and over again {Moving each one to the side of the other} to see if it works and it's nice.)

2. Here's a little tip for you, you can make the pattern have transparent elements if you want to, just delelte the background layer. When you use that pattern it won't show anything in that color.

3. Now that you have your pattern and it looks nice, go to Edit then define pattern.
4a. To use the pattern go to the Style button and select pattern overlay. This will only allow you to put a pattern over the layer, e.g. if you have a filled circle on the page, it will only be on that circle.
4b. To use the pattern go to the Half-and-half looking button (it's name is the "Create new fill or adjustment layer" button, isn't that wordy?) and select Pattern..., this allows you to make a pattern but it does so in a mask, it also makes patterns only in selected areas or the whole image.
5. And you're done! Enjoy your new pattern and if you are making a main image blend with the background, you're going to have to position it properly so there won't be any bumps and other ugly stuff.
And a disclaimer: All elements used belong to their respective owners (though, I can't think of any). And this tutorial reflects MY way of making and using pattern, which may differ from person to person and may not be the best way to do it.

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