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400+ of the Best Free Photoshop Patterns for Designers

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Adobe Photoshop users can save a lot of time and create beautiful designs using patterns. Photoshop’s presets (like patterns, brushes, styles, custom shapes, and gradients) are highly-powerful tools when used effectively.

Whether creating your own custom patterns or using pre-made Photoshop patterns that you’ve downloaded for free or purchased, having an arsenal of patterns at your disposal will allow you to create high-quality work quickly. Patterns can be extremely useful for various types of design, including websites, business cards, flyers, posters, and much more.

Patterns are perfect as backgrounds. Sometimes more subtle patterns are used to give a background some texture or character instead of just using a flat, solid color.

In this post, we’ll showcase over 50 sets of free Photoshop patterns for your use. I think you will find them highly useful for quickly giving significant effects to your designs in Photoshop.

And if you like free resources, please see our post on free SVG pattern generators.



Free Photoshop Patterns (Seamless Patterns)

Most of the resources featured here will come in .pat format, the file format for Photoshop’s pattern presets. These patterns are ready to use right away. Some of the resources come in png or jpg format and if you want to make use of Photoshop’s pattern presets, you’ll need to save these images as patterns. Don’t worry, it’s easy, and we’ll show you how to do it at the end of this article.

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Minimal Web Patterns

This collection of 12 patterns will make it easy to add subtle texture to your designs (perfect for backgrounds).

Minimal Web Patterns

Dark Subtle Patterns

This set of 10 patterns is similar to the previous set, except they are dark instead of light.

Dark Subtle Patterns

Carbon Fibre Patterns

These 4 carbon fibre patterns are also an excellent choice for dark backgrounds, just not quite as subtle as the previous set.

Carbon Fibre Patterns

Pixel Patterns

Simple pixel patterns are a great choice when you are looking for a subtle background pattern. Every web design should have some quality pixel patterns in their pattern library. This pack includes 28 dark and light options.

Free Pixel Patterns

Pixel Patterns

With this collection of 20 free patterns, you’ll have access to some nice simple patterns that can be used in many different ways.

Pixel Patterns

Slashes

This pack of two abstract patterns is unlike others that you’ll find. They may not be as versatile as some of the more subtle options, but in the right situation, they can be extremely useful.

Slashes

Presence

This detailed, illustrated pattern features wings and shields.

Presence

Dark Spades

This spade shape adds some nice detail and texture that could be effectively used within your own designs.

Dark Spades

Bonfire

This unique pattern has somewhat of a fire-inspired look.

Bonfire

Organic Patterns

This set of 3 patterns includes the same design in a few color variations, including the black & white pattern shown below.

Organic Patterns

Moroccan Flower Pattern

Floral patterns are common, but this one has a different look.

Moroccan Flower

What the Hex

Want a geometric pattern that could be used in a bold or subtle way? This is among the best Photoshop patterns for creative use.

What the Hex

Greek and Roman Patterns

This set of six different patterns includes shapes and elements inspired by Greek and Roman designs.

Greek and Roman Patterns

Dusk

This unique pattern for Photoshop combines shapes, lines, and color.

Dusk

Scribbles

This fun pattern is very different than what you’ll find elsewhere.

Scribbles

Double Bubble Dark Pattern

If you like geometric patterns, you’ll love this one.

Double Bubble Dark Pattern

Donuts

Who doesn’t like donuts? You can easily incorporate donuts of different colors into your designs with the help of this resource.

Donuts

Y So Serious Light Pattern

Another geometric pattern that could be used in several different ways, including as a subtle background.

Y So Serious Light Pattern

Webb Pattern

This one puts an interesting twist on a typical diamond pattern.

Webb Pattern

Charcoal Demask Patterns

These retro patterns (set of 2) are awesome for backgrounds, especially when you’re looking for a vintage effect.

Charcoal Demask Patterns

Qbkls Pattern

Here is another beautiful geometric pattern that makes an excellent background.

Qbkls Pattern

Autumn Leaves

An interesting and colorful free Photoshop patterns download (3 patterns included) that may be appropriate for your fall-inspired designs.

Autumn Leaves

Spiderman Pattern

This pattern has a cool metal effect.

Spiderman Pattern

Gears and Cogs

A different option that may serve as an effective background (3 included in the set).

Gears and Cogs

Grid Patterns

Like pixel patterns, grids are also exceptionally useful for web design backgrounds. Here you’ll get 20 grids that give you a wealth of options.

Free Grid Patterns

Manga Patterns

These (5 in the set) can also be used to create subtle patterns for backgrounds.

Manga - Free Photoshop Patterns

Seamless Distressed Diamond Pattern

This is a fun diamond pattern that will add a touch of grunge to your next design.

Seamless Distressed Diamond Pattern

Baroque Collection Lite

Stylish repeating baroque patterns (set of 19) can be very useful for vintage designs.

Free Photoshop Patterns - Baroque Collection

Free Seamless TV Noise Patterns

These 10 tileable patterns are excellent for backgrounds and abstract effects.

Free Seamless TV Noise Patterns

Classic Baroque

More baroque patterns (23) are available here.

Free Photoshop Patterns - Classic Baroque

Simply Floral Patterns

An interesting set of 4 patterns with a sort of abstract floral design.

Free Photoshop Patterns - Simply Floral

GrapeVine

Nature-inspired designs can make use of these grapevine patterns (pack of 5).

Grapevine

We Like Striped

This set (30 included) is another option for subtle patterns to be used by web designers.

We Like Striped

Textured Stripes

A simple striped pattern design can be extremely useful, and this set (6 included) takes a slight variation by adding some texture.

Free Photoshop Patterns - Textured Stripes

Dotted Patterns

Dots can be subtle or more dominant, depending on the contrast between the dots and the background. This set of 29 patterns will give you plenty of choices.

Free Dotted Photoshop Patterns

Hand-Drawn Scrolls

An intricate, hand-drawn style pattern.

Hand-Drawn Scrolls

Ornate Swirls

Swirls always seem to be useful.

Ornate Swirls

GPlay Pattern

This playful triangle pattern features different shades of gray.

GPlay Pattern

Plaid Patterns

If you’re looking to replicate a plaid pattern, this set (3 included) can make it very easy.

Free Photoshop Patterns - Plaid

Simple Geometric Pattern Set

This pattern created with triangles comes in 3 different color variations, including black & white.

Simple Geometric Pattern Set

Geometric Links

A pattern with interesting geometric shapes that is sure to play tricks on your eyes (3 variations).

Free Photoshop Patterns - Geometric

Handmade Paper Pattern Set

Another set of 7 paper patterns, including several colorful options.

Free Photoshop Patterns - Handmade Paper

Grunge Patterns

A set of very rough and grungy repeating textures (9 in the pack).

Grunge Patterns

Waves Pattern

Fun and abstract waves pattern for your projects.

Waves

Ground Texture Patterns

A variety of different textures are used in this set of 15 patterns.

Ground Texture

Tread Plates Patterns

Metal patterns are always great for backgrounds, and this set includes 8 nice tread plate patterns that are free to download.

Tread Plates

Light Rock Patterns

More textured patterns (8) in this set.

Light Rock

Honeycomb Patterns

This pattern set (5 variations) is useful for creating your own abstract backgrounds.

Honeycomb

Metal Mesh Patterns

More metal patterns (14) for awesome backgrounds.

Free Photoshop Patterns - Metal Mesh

Mottled Painted Floral Patterns

These 16 patterns are reminiscent of bright, colorful, wallpaper patterns, blotchy paint, or dress fabric.

Mottled Painted Florals

Vector Patterns

A set of 12 patterns made with various vector shapes.

Free Photoshop Patterns - Vector

Paper Pattern 2.0

A beautiful, repeating paper texture pattern.

Free Paper Photoshop Patterns

Scanlines Patterns

21 subtle scanline patterns that can be used on top of your photos.

Free Scanlines Photoshop Patterns

Dark Metal Grid Patterns

A great choice when you need a dark metal background (8 in the pack).

Free Photoshop Patterns - Dark Metal Grid

Light Metal Grid Patterns

The same thing, just in a lighter version.

Free Photoshop Patterns - Light Metal Grid

Softly Plaidly

A beautiful set of 11 plaid patterns.

Softly Plaidly

Geometric Escher Pattern

This pattern was inspired by M.C. Escher and comes with 3 versions in the free download.

Geometric Escher Pattern

How to Create a Photoshop Pattern Preset

If you’ve downloaded one of the files that come in JPG or PNG format but do not come with a .pat file for Photoshop, you can easily save the pattern as a preset.

First, one the image in Photoshop.

How to Create a Photoshop Pattern Preset - Step 1

Next, go to Edit > Define Pattern, allowing you to save the image as a pattern preset. Enter a name for the pattern file and click “save”.

How to Create a Photoshop Pattern Preset - Step 2

Now you have a pattern preset that can be used at any time. To use it, select the paint bucket tool, select “pattern” in the top toolbar, and then choose the pattern that you’ve just saved. Now when you use the paint bucket it will apply the pattern instead of a color.

How to Create a Photoshop Pattern Preset - Step 3

FAQ About Patterns in Photoshop

What is a .pat file?

.pat is the file format used by Photoshop for pattern presets. With the help of presets, patterns can be easily used and re-used in your designs.

Can I use Photoshop patterns in other software?

.pat files are proprietary for Photoshop, so they will not work in other programs. However, so other software and apps have their own functionality for seamless patterns. To maintain the most versatility, save your tileable image in PNG or JPG format.

How do I save a pattern?

If you have a tileable image (meaning that it can be repeated without visible seams), you can easily save it as a Photoshop pattern preset to re-use the pattern in the future. To do this, go to Edit > Define Pattern. Give the pattern a name and save it.

How do I add a pattern to my design?

To use a pattern that has already been saved or installed as a preset, use the paint bucket tool. In the top toolbar, change ‘foreground’ to ‘pattern’ and then select the pattern that you want to apply.

How do I install Photoshop pattern presets?

The easiest way is to have Photoshop open, and then double click on the .pat file wherever it is on your desktop. Photoshop will automatically install it.

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