Create a Hexagon Pattern in Adobe Illustrator

Back in 2010, I wrote this same tutorial, but back then Adobe Illustrator didn’t have a Pattern ‘tool’. The possibilities to create patterns was way more limited. The option I suggested back then was to create a Symbol from the pattern fragment and then use instances of this symbol to cover the entire space. Today we have Pattern Mode to play and experiment with. It’s one of the Illustrator’s features of I’m rather fond of.

Illustrator’s Pattern Tool

Since version CS6 we have the power of the Pattern Tool to achieve the same result. Let’s start by creating the object we need to create this pattern.

Create the Pattern Fragment

Before getting started, download the Adobe Illustrator template that I’ve prepared for you. This document (in RGB mode) contains an ‘empty’ canvas with the 3 color swatches in the Swatch panel.

1. Select the Polygon Tool

Open the template document in Illustrator, and select the Polygon tool. It’s also recommend to have Smart Guides turned on. Go to View > Smart Guides.