# HoleSnap Pattern

> Image to pattern editor for dots, halftones, image-mapped perforations, laser-cut panels, print graphics, and design exploration.

- Product: HoleSnap Pattern
- Product type: Image to Pattern Generator
- Canonical URL: https://www.holesnap.com/products/pattern
- Knowledge document: https://www.holesnap.com/md/pattern.md
- Last verified: 2026-07-28

## What It Does

HoleSnap Pattern converts an uploaded image, SVG, or logo into a newly generated pattern. It analyzes tone and edges, samples the source across a configurable field, maps image information into hole size or shape roles, and previews the result as dots, halftones, or perforation geometry.

Pattern generates new geometry from the source. It is not a lossless SVG path converter and does not preserve every original SVG path as-is.

## Supported Sources

- PNG
- JPEG
- WebP
- SVG used as an image source
- Built-in starter images

The browser can analyze brightness, contrast, edges, and foreground regions. Foreground segmentation includes a fallback path and may not isolate every subject perfectly.

## How It Works

1. Upload an image, SVG, or logo, or choose a starter image.
2. Start from a scene pack, style preset, output recipe, or manual settings.
3. Set the canvas size and background.
4. Choose the field layout, pitch, density, rotation, offsets, jitter, and seed.
5. Choose hole shapes and how image tone maps to hole size.
6. Adjust invert, contrast, gamma, threshold, background ignore, edge emphasis, and local detail controls.
7. Review hole count, open rate, pitch, preview, and export checks.
8. Export PNG, SVG, or DXF.

## Core Capabilities

### Layouts

Grid, hexagonal, staggered, and triangular fields.

### Hole shapes

Circle, square, diamond, and triangle. Pattern can use one shape or separate main and boundary shape roles.

### Image mapping

Hole size can follow the image, an inverted image, a fixed size, or light seeded variation. Tone controls influence how the source image becomes generated geometry.

### Presets and scenes

Scene packs and style presets provide starting configurations for logos, portraits, apparel graphics, posters, fabrication cuts, decorative screens, ventilation, acoustic concepts, and experimental textures. Output recipes focus the controls and checks for a target such as PNG, SVG, DXF, print, or panel work.

Preset names describe intended starting points. They are not manufacturing or material certifications.

## Outputs

- PNG: browser-generated preview image.
- SVG: vector pattern generated through the HoleSnap export service.
- DXF: CAD/CAM handoff generated through the HoleSnap export service.

SVG and DXF exports require sign-in and are subject to daily quotas, request-size limits, and format-specific geometry limits. Pattern does not currently export STP/STEP.

## Current Limitations

- Pattern does not guarantee that every image will produce a clean fabrication result automatically.
- SVG uploads are sampled as image sources; original vector path structure is not guaranteed to remain intact.
- Foreground segmentation and automatic recommendations can require manual correction.
- Export checks and presets do not replace material, machine, bridge-width, or minimum-feature verification.
- AI prompt generation, plugins, and Bridge Engine analysis are not currently available Pattern features.

## Difference From Other HoleSnap Editors

- Use Pattern when the design starts from an image, SVG, logo, photograph, or graphic.
- Use [HoleSnap Mesh](https://www.holesnap.com/md/mesh.md) when the design starts from parameters, templates, presets, or custom paths.
- Use [HoleSnap Flow Scene](https://www.holesnap.com/md/flow-scene.md) when the design starts from an organic Cell or Flow generator.

## Related Links

- Product overview: https://www.holesnap.com/products/pattern
- Localized overview pattern: https://www.holesnap.com/{locale}/products/pattern
- Open Pattern: https://www.holesnap.com/apps/pattern
- Legacy Image to Perforation tool: https://www.holesnap.com/tools/image-to-perf
- Browse free tools: https://www.holesnap.com/tools
- Help center: https://blog.holesnap.com/support/