Applying the pattern in Illustrator CS3

1. With the Selection tool, select the red rectangle beneath the "Aquo Life" text in the poster.
   
   You can assign the pattern using a number of different methods. In this instance you will use the Swatches panel to apply the pattern. You could also apply the pattern using the Fill color in the Control panel.
   
2. Click on the Fill box in the Tools panel, then in the Swatches panel, click on the dots pattern swatch you created.
   
   The pattern is applied to the fill of the red rectangle.
   
   
   
3. Select the rounded rectangle used to create the pattern (off the right edge of the artboard), and press Delete, as you will no longer need the original.
4. Using the Selection tool, select the red rectangle and choose 2 pt from the Stroke Weight menu in the Control panel.
5. Click the Stroke color in the Control panel and choose CMYK Red from the Swatches panel.
6. Click the word Stroke in the Control panel and change the stroke to apply to the inside of the path.
7. Choose File > Save.
   
   The result.
   
   

Editing the pattern

Perhaps you have used a pattern several times in an illustration and want to update its contents. Not a problem, just follow these steps:

1. Using the Selection tool, click and drag the dots pattern swatch you created from the Swatches panel to an empty location on the artboard. The rounded rectangle returns to your artboard.
2. Choose Select > Deselect, and choose the Direct Selection tool ( ). Select the rounded rectangle.
3. Click the Stroke color in the Control panel, and select CMYK Red for the rounded rectangle. You will create a tint of the CMYK Red using the Color panel.
4. Choose Window > Color if the Color panel is not visible, and make sure the Stroke color is selected in the Color panel. With the rounded rectangle still selected, hold down the Shift key, and drag either the Yellow or Magenta slider to create a "tint" of this color. Notice that when you hold down the Shift key, the sliders move relative to each other. Use this method to create a lighter red color; an exact tint is not necessary.
   
   
   
5. Using the Selection tool, select the rounded rectangle and hold down the Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) key while dragging it back on top of the existing pattern Swatch called dots. The pattern is updated.
   
   
   
6. Select the rounded rectangle that you edited to create the updated pattern and delete it.
7. Choose File > Save.