This effect can be simulated by simply adding a pattern filled layer above the layer to which you wish to add a pattern overlay. Grouping the two layers will cause the pattern fill to only be visible within the outlines of the base layer’s contents. And, this arrangement is indeed what you get if you deconstruct a Pattern Overlay effect.
Here is the Pattern Overlay’s dialog box.
- Blend Mode - Same as usual. Vary it for special effects.
- Opacity - Changes the transparency of the pattern overlay.
- Pattern - Click on either the pattern thumbnail or the little tiny down arrow next to it to find the patterns pop-up palette with the pattern presets. Within that palette, click on the little arrow in the top right corner to access the palette menu, and load additional patterns, if you want more to choose from.
- Snap to Origin - If you have the Link with Layer option checked,
then clicking on this button causes the pattern to snap to the upper
left corner of the layer. If Link with Layer is not checked, clicking
this button will cause the pattern to align with the documents upper
left corner. After changing the Link with Layer setting, you have to
click the button again to get the pattern to snap.
You can drag in the image to change what parts of the pattern are visible. Click the Snap to Origin button to put the pattern back. - Scale - Causes the pattern’s ingredients to become larger or smaller.
- Link with Layer - Locks the pattern to the layer it is applied to so that it transforms, and moves with that layer.
Whenever you see this icon:
in an effect’s dialog box, you can click it to save the effect with its
current settings as a new preset.
The pattern used is called Metal Landscape, and its one of the default presets. As you can see, I reduced the opacity setting to 50 %.
And here is the Layers palette after the effect was deconstructed by choosing Layer > Layer Style > Create Layers.
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