Image Editor that wraps real time?

[andrewjohn81]

I remember having this feature some time in the 90s when I was just realizing how cool computer graphics was. The only thing is I can't remember what software it was.

Ideally what i'd like is to see the image, but in a 9 box, meaning the original image is in the middle, but there are 8 other copies of it showing at the same time. You can paint on any of them and they are all updated at the same time. When you save only the center box gets saved.

A tool like this is awesome for making something tileable. You don't have to mess around with half-wrap or offset. It's a real-time preview of what it will look like tiled.
All I'd really like is the ability to make selections and use tools that use brushes, like the paint brush, stamp, dodge, burn, etc.

The tool I remember didn't actually preview the tiles, but all the brushes could wrap. I thought maybe it was jasc Paint Shop Pro maybe back in version 4 or 5? I can't remember.

Does anyone know of a tool like that, or if for some reason it could be done in photoshop? I'm definitely interested in getting a copy of that. We just picked up Modo Image Synth for Photoshop, but it really doesn't do that great for Lots of textures. It does awesome for some, not so awesome for others.

Am I alone in wanting this? I'm just curious.

[Neilg]

I dont know if anything does have that, but it sounds unneccessary - if you use offset in photoshop to get all your edge lines through the middle of the image, theyre the only ones that have an issue tiling and you can see both sides of them.

[grasshopper]

I disagree. Using the offset only allows you to fix your edged. If your going to use the tile over a large area you need to see what the repeat pattern looks like. I don't know a tool that will help but i too would love to see this feature in photoshop.

Currently i have to work with 2 documents, saving the texture as a pattern and filling the other with the saved image. This workflow sucks and means the second image aften has to be huge. I hope someone has this tool

[andrewjohn81]

Also, you will have to do the offset Twice if you want a good texture.

As soon as you touch the edge when it's offset you have to offset it again to fix what you just did.
If the tools wrapped the edges instead you wouldn't even have to worry about that. You could just offset it once to see the edge problems, then paint, clone, duplicate, whatever to your hearts content and it will remain tileable so long as you fix the center edges.

But yes, this is very important for textures that might cover a large area, like a small bump texture or something like that. Surely you wouldn't create a small bump texture that covers an area like a whole floor. But if you aren't careful you'll see the repetition.

I would definitely like to see this tool. I wish I could at least remember which program it was that allowed me to wrap the brushes tools around the edges though. That was So useful. No one remembers a tool like that?

[instinct]

There was some seamless texture tool that did that...but forgot the name i am afraid. I'll see if i can find a link burried somewhere.

Regards,
Thorsten

[instinct]

http://www.texturemaker.com/news.php

Found it

[andrewjohn81]

Thanks Thorsten!!!

Why is this software not more popular. That looks great. And only 300EU for an entire company? I might be able to get someone to snag that up for sure.
I wish photoshop would do that themselves, but a plugin is the next best thing. This also runs on it's own which is great.

Good find.

[simmsimaging]

I'm pretty sure Bodypaint allows seamless wrapping of it's brush tools when working on 2D maps. I can check it out if you don't have it already.

b

[JeffG2]

Painter (i.e. Corel) use to allow seamless realtime painting.

[andrewjohn81]

Oh I'll have to look into painter. I've got painter express around, a few copies I'm sure, from wacom tablets. A bunch of people have those around here and most people don't even use them.
If anyone confirms that before I have a chance to find a copy then let us know. Next to Photoshop that's probably the most common that we would have.

[dans]

I also think it was Painter that had this option.

[andrewjohn81]

I checked out Painter 9 and couldn't find anything for doing that, but only looked for about 5 minutes. The help file came up with no results either.

Does anyone know about that for sure, or can someone check the newest version. No one here has the newest one.

[JeffG2]

I believe there is an automatic edge wrap mode you must enable.
This allows you paint off the edge it and wraps around to the opposite edge.

I confirmed with a buddy that Painter has this (don't have it installed). It's been a feature since 1995 - unless they removed it.

[andrewjohn81]

Ah, I must have just searched for the wrong thing. I searched for wrap, but didn't get anything. The help file probably isn't very searchable. many aren't.
Or I just screwed it up. lol...likely.