Rotation Tessellations
To make a reflection tessellation, you must start with a(n) 60°/120°
rhombus. You can create one of these very easily.
Getting Started. . .
- 1. Place points B and D on the screen. Select
B, then D and make a circle by center and point.
- 2. Next select D, then B and make another circle
by center and point.
3. Label the intersections of the two circles A and C.
4. The points A, B, C and D are the four vertices of your rhombus. You
don't need to draw in the segments because you're going to have to hide
them later anyway.
-
To create the tessellation pattern. .
.
- 1. Change the color you're working in so you
don't lose track of the original vertices.
- 2. Connect points A and B with some wacky series
of curves and segments. (SEE BELOW)
- 3. Select the vertex point B and mark it as the
center, either by double clicking or by using the transform menu.
- 4. Select the new wacky shape you just created
(but not the endpoints A and B) and rotate it around the point B by -120°
(or 120° if that doesn't work) . The shape should connect up with the
next vertex point C. (SEE BELOW)
- 5. Next, draw in the diagonal AC and mark it
as a mirror, either by double-clicking or by using the transform menu
- 6. Select the entire shape (but not the diagonal
AC and not the vertex points A and B) and reflect it about AC. (SEE BELOW)
- 7. Hide diagonal AC and then drag the points
around until your shape looks cool and none of the lines overlap.

To repeat your pattern to fill the page. . .
- 1. Choose point B and mark it as the center using the Transform menu.
- 2. Select the entire figure (draw a box around it using the arrow tool)
and use the Transform menu to rotate it by 120°.
- 3. Quick, while everything is still selected, rotate it again by 120°!
- 4. Choose another point (on the outer edge of the whole shape) that
looks like the direct image of point B and mark it as the center. (If you
guess wrong, you can always go back using "Edit-Undo").
- 5. Select everything in the picture (open apple-A is a shortcut) and
rotate it by 120°.
- 6: Quick, while everything is still selected, rotate it again by 120°!
Continue steps 4-6 until you have enough shapes. Don't go crazy because
you'll overload the memory of the machine!!
Voila!! You have completed the tessellation!!