NOTE:
The finished patterns is available, for free:
Pique Atout
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MAKING A CIRCULAR
STAINED GLASS PATTERNS
BASED ON RADIAL SYMMETRY
Begin by printing this simple 30 degree wedge from a circle, resizing it if necessary. Right-click on the image below,
and select "print" or select "save as," open and print from a graphic program such as MS Paint.
Draw anything you fancy. Circles, lines, stripes, branches, stars, rings, ribbons, etc. In the example
below, one example I have made, with "ribbons" in every direction.
Create a new blank file, large enough to fit about 3x the width and height in pixels of the scanned image.
Copy and paste a perfect circle in the bottom layer. You may download the image below, which features a perfect circle.
Copy and paste the pattern in a new layer above the perfect circle, and line the edge against that
of the circle. You can resize the circle in its layer; that's usually necessary. Return to the file with the pattern, and create a mirror image with a 180 rotation.
Copy and paste the digitally modified pattern onto the file with the circle in a new layer, and line
up the edges. Merge the layers with the pattern together, but not to the layer with the perfect circle.
Working on the pattern layer, fix any unequalities where the patterns meet. With the magic wand tool,
select the black lines of the pattern. Copy and paste in a new blank file, and rotate 180 degrees. Select
the black lines of the digitally modified pattern, paste back into the main file with the circle, in
a new layer, and line up with the circle's edge.
Merge down the layers with the pattern image, but not with the layer with the perfect circle. Using
the magic wand tool, select the pattern again. Copy and paste in a new blank file, and rotate 60 degrees.
Select the black lines of the rotated pattern image, copy and paste in the main file. Rotate the same pattern
another 60 degrees, copy and paste in the main file as well. Line up with the edge of the perfect circle. Merge all
layers with the pattern, but not that of the perfect circle. Using the erase tool, delete the hand drawn
edge of the circle, revealing the digitally-produced perfect circle in the bottom layer.
Your pattern is now ready to print and use!
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