Textured Patterns in Affinity + Fresco: From Vector Brushes to Pixel Persona

I'd be over the moon if you could please leave me a STARS ★★★★★ rating after your purchase :)

In this class, we’ll bring your artwork to life by adding depth, texture, and character using a fun hybrid workflow in Affinity Designer and Adobe Fresco (optional). No subscriptions required, just the tools you already have.

We’ll create a seamless repeat pattern from start to finish, exploring how to combine vector brushes, pixel persona textures, and custom assets to build layered, expressive designs that feel rich.

WHAT YOU WILL GET

• a unique approach to creating seamless patterns in minutes
• nearly 3 HOURS of material, packed with all the essential information on how to create your semi-automated vector repeat patterns in Affinity
• 1 Affinity Designer .aftemplate document with the diamond repeat template
• 1 set of assets with 6 hand-made vector textures and 6 curated color palettes

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN 

• How to sketch, build, and arrange your pattern elements
• How to harness Adobe Fresco and its vector jittery brushes for more interest in your patterns
• How to use Affinity’s Pixel Persona to add natural depth and shading
• How to enhance your pattern designs with vector brushes in Affinity Designer
• How to efficiently create multiple pattern variations with both vector and pixel elements

WHO IS THIS CLASS FOR

This class is for pattern designers of all levels who would like to take their patterns to the next level and prepare their work to be presented to potential clients. If you have a passion for pattern design and a desire to enhance your compositions, experiment with colors, add depth to your creations, and build a standout portfolio, this class is tailored for you.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

• Affinity Designer software, any version, however I'm teaching my demo on the iPad version V2
• an idea for your pattern, a sketchbook or Procreate if you draw digitally
• Adobe Fresco, which is for free, is optional

MEET THE TEACHER

Hi! I’m Weronika Salach, an illustrator, surface pattern designer & art teacher. I create vibrant work to fill your world with color, and I teach how to draw in Procreate and Affinity Designer. I'm a Top Teacher on Skillshare where I helped over 40,000 students take their digital illustration skills to the next level.

👉 Website

👉 "The Art of Growth" blog-letter

👉 Affinity Designer FB Group

👉 FB for Affinity and Adobe Fresco users

👉 YouTube

👉 Instagram

FAQ 🤔

• What tools do I need?
  • Any version of Affinity Designer, desktop or iPad. I will be demonstrating on my iPad in Designer V2. As of October 2025 Affinity software is for FREE. You can also take a look at the new Affinity V3 desktop studio: https://weronikasalach.substack.com/p/big-news-from-serif-affinity-free
• Is this course good for beginners?
  • I’d recommend this course for more intermediate Affinity Designer users who already know the interface. However, all my Affinity courses are very beginner-friendly and targeted at people who have little experience with Affinity software. They're also suitable for more experienced designers and illustrators who perhaps wish to transition from Adobe software into Serif tools (Designer, Photo, Publisher).
• What do "AUTOMATED patterns" mean?
  • Previously I’ve been teaching creating repeat patterns using the Live Pattern Preview Tool. This approach requires the use of the Transform Studio and manually shifting all the objects that are on the edges of your pattern tile. From this moment on, I am abandoning this way of working and I’ll be creating all my patterns using my automated templates. To demonstrate how it works, I’ll be teaching you how to create beautiful diamond repeats. Normally building an error-free repeat with the old approach would give me a BIG headache - so I designed automated templates which allow you to create a pattern IN REAL time and building your seamless repeat as you draw.The automation aspect refers to building the repeat, but of course you still have to do the drawing part. You’ll see though that the repeat comes from under your fingers in seconds! Bye bye X- and Y-axis calculations, I won’t miss you :)
• Are Affinity vector brushes "real" brushes?
  • I love using vector brushes in Affinity and I wrote a whole article about it: https://www.weronikasalach.com/blog/vector-brushes-vs-raster-brushes-in-affinity-designer
• What if I don't understand something?
  • If something just isn't clicking, just give it a rest and come back to it later if you're having trouble. Perhaps you would like to join our Facebook Affinity Designer group? We share their Affinity-related findings, answer questions and give each other feedback. You can also approach me on Skillshare or via email: hello@weronikasalach.com.