Patternify
Dev tools
css pattern generator
SHOW HN2011
How HN took it
4 positive, 7 neutral or asking, 2 mixed, 2 critical, out of 15 comments about the project. Thread score +0.10.
Idea: 2 for, 0 againstExecution: 0 for, 2 againstDesign: 1 for, 0 againstDocs: 1 for, 0 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Useful, especially the base64 export for pasting straight into CSS.
From 2 comments
It's useful (especially the base64 part), but I didn't see any way to actually "generate" a pattern. Maybe call it a CSS Pattern Editor? Also, it would be easier to use if…
sunetos on HNA small app I've been working on these last few days. It's a simple pattern generator, and you can export your pattern as a PNG, or as base64 code. If you export it as code, you…
sgdesign on HN
Fun, simple pixel-drawing interface.
From 2 comments
This is great! Had fun playing with it for 10 minutes. A UI note: a common behavior in pixel-based editors like this one is: When you click on a blank pixel, fill it with color.…
handsomeransoms on HNThis reminds me of the old days of creating desktop "wallpapers" on my Mac 512K. Except this allows color! I've found one fun way to generate patterns (for websites, for…
alanfalcon on HN
Objections
Clicking a pixel clears it instead of painting over, which is awkward.
From 2 comments
Minor nitpick: When I click a pixel of a different color than my current color, I would expect to paint over the pixel, not clear it first. That would also make it much easier to…
moeffju on HNClicking a pixel again (same color) would delete it, in lieu of an eraser tool. That would shift the burden of clicking twice to get your desired result to when you were deleting…
moeffju on HN
Drawing needs click-and-drag painting instead of repeated clicks.
From 2 comments
This is great! Had fun playing with it for 10 minutes. A UI note: a common behavior in pixel-based editors like this one is: When you click on a blank pixel, fill it with color.…
handsomeransoms on HNIt's useful (especially the base64 part), but I didn't see any way to actually "generate" a pattern. Maybe call it a CSS Pattern Editor? Also, it would be easier to use if…
sunetos on HN
Does not work on iPad because the drawing area ignores touch.
From 1 comment
Almost all the controls at the bottom worked on the iPad but clicks in the drawing area didn't. I found it impossible to draw any pixels on. Perhaps I misunderstood how it is…
mryall on HN
Needs a .png extension added manually when exporting.
From 1 comment
'Don't forget to add the .png extension to the file' ... what? Why is this not automatic? (Oh, this is being generated client side maybe? thus it's a browser/html5 limitation I'm…
drivebyacct2 on HN
Requests
Add sample patterns to start from.
From 2 comments
Would be amazing to have a few sample patterns as a way to show how it works (what to paint). Would help newer designers figure out how to make good-looking patterns and provide…
melissamiranda on HNNice! I would have it default to a nice looking pattern first to show it in use. Then a clear button would be useful. And finally I agree the drawing is annoying - just have them…
mrtron on HN
Add an eraser or Shift+click to delete pixels.
From 2 comments
Yeah, I realized this too while using it. But then how would you delete a pixel? I would need to add an eraser tool, which means I need to rethink some of the UI, etc. So I…
sgdesign on HNMake it so Shift + Click deletes. Problem solved.
moe on HN
Add a color palette or eyedropper and a clear button.
From 2 comments
But since there's no color palette or eyedropper, finding the same exact color is virtually impossible… so right now the way that you describe wouldn't really work. And the…
sgdesign on HNNice! I would have it default to a nice looking pattern first to show it in use. Then a clear button would be useful. And finally I agree the drawing is annoying - just have them…
mrtron on HN
Make the background change to show the pattern in use.
From 1 comment
Instead of doing it in the little box, you should make it change the entire background (instead of the orange). More visual that way.
vinhboy on HN
Questions
Is the export generated client side, which is why the file extension is needed?
From 1 comment
'Don't forget to add the .png extension to the file' ... what? Why is this not automatic? (Oh, this is being generated client side maybe? thus it's a browser/html5 limitation I'm…
drivebyacct2 on HN
Alternatives named
Pixelfinger, an iPhone/iPad pixel sketching app.
From 1 comment
Had a similar idea for iPhone/iPad pixel sketching... http://souseiji.net/pixelfinger You can share them too: http://bit.ly/bIkGnu
minikomi on HN
Colourlovers pattern collection.
From 1 comment
This reminds me of the old days of creating desktop "wallpapers" on my Mac 512K. Except this allows color! I've found one fun way to generate patterns (for websites, for…
alanfalcon on HN