In the following tutorial, we will learn quickly how to create trippy patterns using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. The techniques you will learn here will help you create your own psychedelic and trippy-style patterns for your projects, so be inspired!
If you don’t have the time to learn how to create trippy designs, you can always head to Envato Elements, where you can find a vast collection of graphics and design assets that are ready to download and use.
What You’ll Learn in This Illustrator Tutorial
- How to create a trippy acid wave background
- How to make a psychedelic pattern effect
- How to create a groovy and psychedelic 60s pattern
1. How to Create a Trippy Acid Wave Background
Step 1
Launch Illustrator and click on New File to open the New Document window. Name your design file ‘Trippy_01’, set it to 3000 x 2000 px, and hit Create.
Step 2
For the first design, we want to make an easy trippy pattern using wavy lines. Before we start, enable the Smart Guides (Command-U).
Select the Rectangle Tool (M), and draw a rectangular strip from one end of the artboard to the other. Make sure it has a turquoise Fill and null Stroke.
Using the Selection Tool (V) to select the rectangle, hold down the Shift-Alt keys to constrain the movement, and duplicate the selection by dragging the cursor vertically until the edges touch.
Then click the Command-D shortcut to Transform Again. Repeat this duplicate shortcut three times.
Step 3
Now, let’s give this psychedelic design some color. Select each of the rectangular bars and give them a color Fill. I worked with turquoise, aquamarine, orange-red, egg-yellow, and beige for a retro color palette.
Then Select All (Command-A) and Group (Command-G).
Step 4
Next, use the Selection Tool (V) to select the group. Hold down the Shift-Alt keys to constrain the movement, and duplicate the selection by dragging it down to the end of the group.
Click the Command-D shortcut to duplicate and Transform Again, until the end of the artboard.
Step 5
Select All (Command-A) and Group (Command-G).
Then apply a wave warp effect: Effect > Warp > Wave. Set the Bend to 50%, Horizontal, and OK.
Step 6
With the group still selected, apply an Envelope Distort to the selection: Object > Envelope Distort > Make With Mesh…
This will open the Envelope Mesh window. Specify the number of rows and columns you want. I set Rows to 4 and Columns to 7. Click OK.
Step 7
Now let’s have some fun! Here you can work your magic by tweaking the wave pattern to create a liquified wave effect.
Pick the Direct Selection Tool (A), to tweak each of the anchor points in the rows and columns. Hold down the Shift key to select multiple anchor points, or you can try to bend and rotate the anchor points. Go ahead and work your magic!
Step 8
Once you have finished tweaking, select the Rectangle Tool (M) and draw a rectangle to cover the artboard space.
Step 9
Now let’s finish off the trippy pattern by applying a Clipping Mask.
Select the rectangle, hold down Shift to select the wavy lines as well, and then use the shortcut (Command-7) to apply a Clipping Mask or choose Object > Clipping Mask > Make.
2. How to Make a Psychedelic Pattern Effect
Step 1
Let’s go ahead and make another trippy illustration with a liquified effect, using both Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. First create a New Document (Command-N) with an artboard size of 3000 x 2000 px dimensions, in Adobe Illustrator.
For this effect, we need to draw lines, so take the Line Segment Tool (\), with a null Fill and black Stroke. Set the Stroke Weight to 25 pt from the top menu bar, and draw a line from one end of the artboard to the other.
Step 2
Next, we need to duplicate the line across the artboard, so Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform… This will open the Transform Effect dialog box. Check the Preview for a live preview. Set Move: Vertical to 40 px and Copies to 50, and hit OK.
Step 3
Next, use Command-C to Copy the line segment, and move on to Photoshop to give the ‘liquify’ effect.
Use the same Document Size of 3000 x 2000 px, and make sure the document is in RBG mode.
Step 4
Edit > Paste to open the Paste dialog box, make sure Pixel is checked, and press OK.
Make sure to fit the linework onto the artboard correctly. Then right-click on ‘Layer 1’ and Convert to Smart Object.
Step 5
Now let’s apply a ‘liquify’ effect. Go to Filter > Liquify to open the Liquify window.
Select the Twirl Clockwise Tool (C) from the left tool panel. Set the brush Size to 800 or more, and slowly twirl the lines by clicking and dragging. If you make a mistake, click on Reconstruct or Reconstruct All, and start over.
Step 6
After, you’ve finished twirling the line design, go ahead and switch to the Forward Warp Tool (W) to fix the side shapes and lines.
Step 7
Next, we need to convert the artwork into a vector.
Select the Rectangle Marquee Tool (M), and drag it around the liquified artboard. Then go to Edit > Copy Merged.
Move over to Adobe Illustrator again. Delete the line we transformed, and then Edit > Paste (Command-V) to paste the new liquified pattern image onto the artboard.
Step 8
Window > Image Trace.
Set the Mode to Black and White, and make sure to check Ignore White under Options.
Step 9
Once your image has been traced, click Expand from the top menu bar.
Then Object > Ungroup to ungroup the lines.
Now you can change the color of each line. Take the Direct Selection Tool (A), and apply color fills to the liquified lines.
Step 10
To finish the psychedelic pattern effect, we need to add a background.
So take the Rectangle Tool (M) and draw a rectangle shape 3000 x 2000 px over the artboard space. Then, with the shape selected, Object > Arrange > Send to Back (Shift-Command-[).
Apply a suitable color Fill, and voila! Your trippy pattern is ready.
3. How to Create a Groovy Psychedelic 60s Pattern
Step 1
The next design we will create is a 1960s psychedelic hippie-style pattern.
Create a New Document (Command-N), 2000 px by 2000 px.
Open the Brushes panel (Window > Brushes).
Grab the Brush Tool (B). Select a round calligraphic brush, and set the Stroke color to black from the Tools bar.
Step 2
Start by doodling four separate trippy illustrations. Grab the Brush Tool (B), and hand-draw some hipster objects, like lips, flowers, mushrooms, eyes, sun, peace symbol, etc.
Step 3
Once you have finished doodling, Select All (Command-A), and Object > Expand Appearance.
Step 4
Next, open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder).
With the Selection Tool (V), select all the shapes of each trippy illustration group and Shape Modes: Unite from the Pathfinder panel.
Do this for all four doodles.
Step 5
Time to color the elements.
Use the Selection Tool (V) to select each element.
Select the Live Paint Bucket Tool (K), which is found under the Shape Builder Tool (Shift-M). Now the selected element will turn into a Live Paint Group.
Move the Live Paint Bucket Tool over the doodle, and then apply color to the gaps.
Step 6
Color all objects using the Live Paint Bucket Tool (K).
Step 7
Let’s turn these elements into a seamless 60s-style psychedelic pattern.
With our colored objects selected, click Object > Pattern > Make to start creating our pattern. Then use the Selection Tool (V) to move and rotate the elements as you see fit. Make sure to overlap the elements for a trippy pattern design.
From the Pattern Options panel, set the following options:
- Tile Type: Hex By Column
- Width: 1000 px
- Height: 1000 px
- Copies: 9 x 9
- Click Done from the top menu to exit Pattern Mode
Step 8
The psychedelic 60s pattern will now appear automatically in the Swatches panel (Window > Swatches).
Once the swatch is created, you can hide the objects we created by going to Object > Hide > Selection (Command-3).
Finally, grab the Rectangle Tool (M). Draw a 2000 x 2000 px square and apply the pattern swatch to the Fill.
Congratulations! You’re Done
You just learned how to create different psychedelic patterns, illustrations, and trippy designs using a selection of Adobe Illustrator tools.
Now that you’ve gained the ability to make easy trippy patterns, feel free to apply the same techniques to create your own psychedelic 60s pattern. If you don’t have time to design your own, make sure to check out Envato Elements, where you will find plenty of resources that might inspire you and are available for download.
Ready-to-Use Trippy Patterns and Assets
If you’d like to save time, simply download any of the thousands of assets available on Envato Elements, including psychedelic patterns and designs.
1. Orange Psychedelic Vibes Illustration Set (AI, EPS)
Are you looking for illustrations with a psychedelic vibe? Check out this artistic set, which will come in handy if you’d like to create your own composition for a pattern, landing page, website, and more.
2. Warped Line Textures (EPS, JPG)
When you need high-resolution patterns to give your design projects a twisted vibe, give this set of swirly, glitchy textures a try. You’ll get various styles that are trippy and fitting for all sorts of cool design projects.
3. Watercolor Psychedelic Flowers (PNG)
This eight-piece collection of seamless watercolor patterns has a different approach, featuring fruits, mushrooms, and vibrant flowers.
4. Abstract Psychedelic Backgrounds (JPG)
Create fun and twisted effects using these psychedelic abstract backgrounds. They combine a colorful, vibrant look with a surreal feel. These backgrounds really grab attention and will help make your projects stand out.
5. Humbeys Rounded Warped Font
Finish off your designs with Humbeys, a twisted, experimental font to create a sense of dynamism and movement.
Want to Learn More?
Did you enjoy this tutorial on how to create psychedelic patterns? You can find loads more tutorials on Envato Tuts+ that will teach you many other useful techniques to design trippy patterns. Here’s a list of retro articles and tutorials specially catered to that. Take a look!
- How to Design a Retro 60s Flower PatternMissChatz09 May 2022
- 35+ Best Retro 80s Fonts to Download in 2024Melody Nieves13 Nov 2023
- Design a Crazy Retro Poster With Quirky Lettering in Adobe IllustratorYulia Sokolova14 Sep 2022
- 70s Logo Design: Groovy Logos From the 1970s and Retro Logo InspirationLaura Keung18 Mar 2022
- 32 Cool Retro Fonts to Download in 2024Melody Nieves02 Dec 2023
- 1960s Logo: Retro 60s Logo Design, Examples, and InspirationLaura Keung11 Mar 2022
