---
title: "Background patterns: houndstooth, gingham, halftone and 50 more | Bannx"
description: "A visual guide to 53 background patterns: houndstooth, gingham, camo, halftone, wood grain, mudcloth, zebra print and grainy gradients. Recolour any, any size."
source: https://bannx.com/blog/background-patterns
---

Short answer: **pick a background pattern by how much it competes with your text.** Low-contrast textures (film grain, grainy gradients, wood grain, corduroy) sit quietly behind a headline. Bold repeats (houndstooth, gingham, zebra print, camo) work as the subject of the image or behind a solid panel that holds the words. Then match the pattern's colours to your brand and set its scale for the size it will actually be seen at.

Every pattern below is a live template in the [backgrounds gallery](https://bannx.com/templates/format/backgrounds): 53 patterns and textures drawn by shaders, so every colour, scale and level of detail is adjustable, and they render sharp at any size. They are free to open and edit, no account needed.

## [How to choose a background pattern](https://bannx.com/blog/background-patterns#how-to-choose-a-background-pattern)

Five checks save most pattern designs:

- **Contrast with text.** A busy pattern behind body copy makes it hard to read. Either lower the contrast between the pattern's own colours, or put the text on a solid or semi-opaque panel. Aim for at least 4.5:1 between text and whatever sits directly behind it.
- **Scale.** A repeat that looks right on a desktop banner turns into noise on a phone. Judge the pattern at the size people will see it, not zoomed in on your canvas.
- **Brand colours.** Two or three brand colours plus a neutral is usually enough. A pattern built from your primary colour and a darker shade of it reads as "on brand" without any logo.
- **Print vs screen.** For print, render at the final pixel size (an A4 page at 300 dpi is 2480 × 3508 px). Shader patterns have no fixed resolution, so a bigger render is simply sharper, not stretched.
- **Avoid moiré.** Fine stripes, halftone dots and thin grid lines can shimmer or form wavy bands when an image is scaled down or printed through another dot screen. Make the repeat coarser, or check the output at its real size before you ship it.

## [Houndstooth pattern](https://bannx.com/blog/background-patterns#houndstooth-pattern)

Houndstooth is a broken check of four-pointed shapes, woven in twill from bands of dark and light threads. It is a traditional Scottish woollen cloth (it is also called dogstooth) and still reads as tailoring, heritage and autumn. Use it big and two-tone for fashion and editorial posts, or small and low-contrast as a texture. Start from the classic [houndstooth pattern](https://bannx.com/templates/houndstooth-pattern), the softer [twill check version](https://bannx.com/templates/houndstooth-twill-pattern), or the bolder [stepped checkerboard](https://bannx.com/templates/step-weave-pattern).

## [Gingham pattern](https://bannx.com/blog/background-patterns#gingham-pattern)

Gingham is an even check: stripes of the same width run both ways, usually one colour on white, so the crossings make a darker square. It suits picnics, summer menus, bakeries, kids' brands and anything that wants to feel homely. The [denim gingham pattern](https://bannx.com/templates/denim-gingham-pattern) gives it a washed-blue twist; swap in your brand colour for a cleaner look. For a heavier check with more presence, the [buffalo plaid pattern](https://bannx.com/templates/plaid-checker-pattern) is the cold-weather cousin.

## [Camouflage pattern](https://bannx.com/blog/background-patterns#camouflage-pattern)

Camouflage breaks up a shape with irregular patches of a few related colours. Classic camo uses blobs; digital camo uses square pixels instead, which is why it looks at home on gaming, outdoor and streetwear graphics. Try the [digital pixel camouflage](https://bannx.com/templates/digital-camouflage-pattern) or the softer [dotted camouflage](https://bannx.com/templates/dotted-digital-camo-pattern). Camo is busy by design, so recolour it in close tones (three greens, three greys, or three shades of your brand colour) if text has to sit on top.

## [Halftone pattern](https://bannx.com/blog/background-patterns#halftone-pattern)

Halftone is the print trick of showing light and shade with dots of different sizes, the look of newspaper photos, comics and pop art. As a background it adds energy and a retro, printed feel. The [halftone wave pattern](https://bannx.com/templates/halftone-wave-pattern) works for calmer layouts; the [halftone flame pattern](https://bannx.com/templates/halftone-fire-pattern) is loud enough to carry a poster on its own. Halftone is the pattern most prone to moiré, so keep the dots large relative to the output size.

## [Wood grain texture](https://bannx.com/blog/background-patterns#wood-grain-texture)

Wood grain is the line of the wood's fibres and growth rings showing on a cut board. Straight grain, where the lines run close to parallel, looks calm and natural, which suits food, furniture, craft and wellness brands. The [wood grain texture](https://bannx.com/templates/straight-grain-wood-pattern) lets you set the wood's tone from pale oak to dark walnut, or push it to a brand colour for a stylised look. It is one of the few textures that can sit behind body text without a panel, as long as the grain contrast stays low.

## [Mudcloth pattern](https://bannx.com/blog/background-patterns#mudcloth-pattern)

Mudcloth (bògòlanfini) is a handmade cotton cloth from Mali, sewn from woven strips and painted with dyes made from fermented mud, with bold geometric marks in dark and cream. Our designs are inspired by that look rather than copies of traditional cloth; the names are our own. Choose from the [Kala chevrons](https://bannx.com/templates/kala-mudcloth-pattern), the mudcloth-style florals [Sirabloom](https://bannx.com/templates/sirabloom-mudcloth-pattern) and [Fleurkala](https://bannx.com/templates/fleurkala-mudcloth-pattern), and the strip-cloth-style [Farofleur](https://bannx.com/templates/farofleur-strip-cloth-pattern). They suit home, textile, craft and lifestyle brands, and look best in earthy, two-colour palettes.

## [Zebra print and animal print backgrounds](https://bannx.com/blog/background-patterns#zebra-print-and-animal-print-backgrounds)

Zebra stripes are bold, irregular black and white bands, and animal prints in general bring instant attitude to fashion, beauty and event graphics. The [zebra print background](https://bannx.com/templates/zebra-stripes-pattern) is the clean version; the [turbulent zebra print](https://bannx.com/templates/zebra-turbulence-pattern) swirls the stripes for a more abstract feel. For spots instead of stripes, use the [giraffe print](https://bannx.com/templates/giraffe-print-pattern) or the [animal spot pattern](https://bannx.com/templates/patcho-spots-pattern). Recoloured away from their natural tones (pink zebra, blue giraffe), they stop looking literal and start looking designed.

## [Topographic background](https://bannx.com/blog/background-patterns#topographic-background)

A topographic map draws contour lines, each joining points at the same height, so close lines mean steep ground. As a background, those flowing rings feel outdoorsy, technical and calm at once, which is why they show up on travel, outdoor, data and tech graphics. The [topographic contour lines background](https://bannx.com/templates/organic-contours-pattern) works in two colours: thin light lines on a dark ground for a night-map look, or the reverse for something airy. Keep the lines thin and the spacing generous so headlines stay readable on top.

## [Film grain texture](https://bannx.com/blog/background-patterns#film-grain-texture)

Film grain is the fine, random speckle of photographic film. Added to a flat colour or gradient, it removes the plastic, too-perfect feel of digital fills, and it hides the visible bands that smooth gradients often show. The [film grain texture](https://bannx.com/templates/film-grain-pattern) lets you set the background colour, how strong the grain is and how coarse each speck is. Subtle grain sits well behind almost anything; heavy grain reads as vintage or editorial.

## [Mesh gradient and grainy gradient](https://bannx.com/blog/background-patterns#mesh-gradient-and-grainy-gradient)

A mesh gradient blends several colours across the canvas from different points, so the colour flows in soft clouds instead of a straight line from A to B. The [mesh gradient background](https://bannx.com/templates/mesh-gradient-background) is an animated loop, so it can play behind a video or a story as well as a still. A grainy gradient adds noise on top, which keeps big colour fields from banding and gives them a printed, tactile finish: try the [grainy gradient background](https://bannx.com/templates/grainy-gradient-pattern). For a gradient broken into tiles, the [mesh gradient mosaic](https://bannx.com/templates/meshy-grid-pattern) sits between the two.

## [Corduroy texture and other fabric textures](https://bannx.com/blog/background-patterns#corduroy-texture-and-other-fabric-textures)

Corduroy is cotton cloth woven with raised ridges, called wales, running down its length. As a texture it brings warmth and a slightly retro, cosy feel. The [corduroy pattern](https://bannx.com/templates/corduroy-pattern) sits alongside other cloth textures that make good, quiet backgrounds:

- [Denim herringbone texture](https://bannx.com/templates/jean-fabric-pattern) and [denim patchwork](https://bannx.com/templates/denim-patchwork-pattern)
- [Woven fabric](https://bannx.com/templates/woven-fabric-pattern), [ribbed knit](https://bannx.com/templates/ribbed-fabric-pattern) and [basket weave](https://bannx.com/templates/woven-basket-pattern)
- [Market bag weave](https://bannx.com/templates/market-bag-pattern), [silk flowing folds](https://bannx.com/templates/silk-flow-pattern) and [curtain folds](https://bannx.com/templates/curtain-folds-pattern)

## [More geometric patterns](https://bannx.com/blog/background-patterns#more-geometric-patterns)

Geometric repeats are the most flexible family: recolour them in brand tones and they become a signature backdrop for a whole campaign.

- **Cubes and blocks:** [isometric cubes](https://bannx.com/templates/isometric-cubes-pattern) and [tumbling blocks](https://bannx.com/templates/prism-blocks-pattern), the classic quilt illusion of stacked 3D boxes.
- **Triangles:** [triangle grid](https://bannx.com/templates/triangle-grid-pattern), [triangle tessellation](https://bannx.com/templates/triangular-tessellations-pattern), [corner triangle tiles](https://bannx.com/templates/corner-triangles-pattern) and [triangle-blade pinwheels](https://bannx.com/templates/pinwheel-pattern).
- **Zigzags and waves:** [chevron zigzag columns](https://bannx.com/templates/chevron-zigzag-columns-pattern), [parallelogram zigzag](https://bannx.com/templates/zigzag-parallelogram-pattern), [wavy bamboo](https://bannx.com/templates/wavy-bamboo-pattern), [vertical flow lines](https://bannx.com/templates/vertical-flow-lines-pattern) and [banded stripes](https://bannx.com/templates/hope-lines-pattern).
- **Tiles and grids:** [pool tile grid](https://bannx.com/templates/pool-grid-pattern), [green stone mosaic](https://bannx.com/templates/green-stone-mosaic-pattern), [pixel mosaic](https://bannx.com/templates/pixelated-pattern) and a [dashed grid](https://bannx.com/templates/grid-lines-dash-background).
- **Stars, flowers and curves:** [six-pointed star](https://bannx.com/templates/six-pointed-star-pattern), [diamond flower](https://bannx.com/templates/diamond-flower-pattern) (also in [large](https://bannx.com/templates/diamond-flower-large-pattern)), [curved-arc pinwheel](https://bannx.com/templates/pinwheel-arcs-pattern) and [interlocking T](https://bannx.com/templates/interlocking-t-pattern).
- **Light:** [sunburst rays](https://bannx.com/templates/sun-rays-pattern) and [prism light rays](https://bannx.com/templates/light-dispersion-pattern) for launches and announcements.

## [How to recolour a pattern to your brand and resize it](https://bannx.com/blog/background-patterns#how-to-recolour-a-pattern-to-your-brand-and-resize-it)

Because these backgrounds are drawn by shaders rather than stored as image files, nothing is baked in. Open any template from the [backgrounds gallery](https://bannx.com/templates/format/backgrounds) and:

1. **Recolour it.** Each pattern exposes its colours as inputs. Set them to your brand palette: the main colour, a darker or lighter step of it, and a neutral.
2. **Set the scale and detail.** Make the repeat larger for a phone-sized post, smaller for a wide banner, and turn down detail or contrast when text will sit on top.
3. **Resize the canvas.** Change the template's size to the format you need: a square social post, a wide banner, a slide, a print page. The pattern redraws at the new size instead of stretching.
4. **Add your content.** Drop a headline, a logo or a photo on top, on a panel if the pattern is busy.
5. **Download.** PNG and PDF downloads are free, with no account and no watermark. In a PDF the pattern is placed as pixels, so set the canvas to the print size first.

With a free account (25 free renders every month) you can save the result, put your brand kit on it, and export the animated backgrounds, like the mesh gradient loop, as video. The same template then works as a design system for a campaign: bind the colours to your brand, and every background follows when the brand changes. If you need a background for every row of a spreadsheet, each with its own colour or headline, see [generating images from a spreadsheet](https://bannx.com/blog/generate-images-from-spreadsheet).

Browse all 53 in the [backgrounds gallery](https://bannx.com/templates/format/backgrounds): open any pattern, make it yours and download it, free and without signing up.

## [FAQ](https://bannx.com/blog/background-patterns#faq)

**What is the best background pattern for text?** Low-contrast textures: film grain, a grainy gradient, wood grain or a quiet fabric like corduroy. If you want a bold pattern such as houndstooth or zebra print, put the text on a solid panel so it keeps its contrast.

**What is the difference between houndstooth and gingham?** Gingham is a plain, even check of equal stripes running both ways, so it forms neat squares. Houndstooth is a broken check whose shapes have jagged, four-pointed edges, which makes it feel more formal and tailored.

**How do I stop a pattern from causing moiré?** Moiré comes from fine repeats (thin stripes, small halftone dots, hairline grids) meeting the pixel grid of a screen or the dot screen of a printer. Make the repeat coarser, avoid downscaling the final image, and check it at its real display or print size.

**Can I change the colours of these background patterns?** Yes. Every pattern in the gallery is drawn by a shader with its colours, scale and detail exposed as inputs, so you can set them to your brand palette and change the size without the pattern blurring.

**Are these patterns good for print?** Yes. They have no fixed resolution, so render them at the final print size (for example 2480 × 3508 px for A4 at 300 dpi) and download as PNG or PDF.