Frequently Asked Questions
Open Pattern Format is an open specification without proprietary licensing restrictions. The format will always be free to use and royalty free.
Making the Open Pattern Format open source and royalty free safeguards the formats future. OPAF will always be openly available and accessible so everyone can contribute to it’s success. The specification is driven by the community and anybody is free to add support for the format to their apps and services without restriction.
Yes! The Pattern Manager app will be free to download and use with no ads. There will always be a free pattern reading app available to make sure pattern files are accessible.
As OPAF is an open standard and royalty free we encourage others to create their own apps or integrate support for OPAF into their existing services.
The Pattern Manager app can run on most devices and currently supports Android, iOS, MacOS, Windows and Linux. We are currently working on making the app available in the Google Play Store, Apple Store and Microsoft Store. We hope that in time the app will be available in as many places as possible!
OPAF pattern files can be sold and distributed in the same ways as PDF patterns are today. How much a designer charges (or doesn’t charge) and how they distribute their pattern remains up to them.
You can browse the Pattern Index to find patterns available in the OPAF format. Links to pattern files will be made available by the designer using their chosen distribution channels.
Some free patterns are available to ‘Open in App’ from the Pattern Index.
Currently the library of OPAF patterns is small. As the format becomes more established, more patterns will become available. The best way to keep up to date with new releases is to sign up to our mailing list (and keep an eye on the blog).
Not necessarily. It depends on the designer and what configuration options they make available in their patterns. Making a pattern truly customisable isn’t always straight forward and many parameters need to be taken into consideration. However, all patterns should benefit from all of the other interactive features that the file format offers.
There are a few ways to add patterns to your library:
If you have downloaded the .opafpkg file to your device, open the app and click the ‘+’ button on the bottom right side of the library tab. Find the .opafpkg file on your device and select it to load it into the app. Currently OPAF files are not associated with the app so if you open them in your file manager you will likely just see raw XML data.
You can add free patterns from the Pattern Index by simply clicking on the ‘Open in App’ button. Just make sure you have the app installed first!
Some designers may offer OPAF pattern links from within a PDF file. These links will either enable you to load the pattern into Pattern Manager directly or download the file to your device, or both.
Have any more questions?
Please don’t hesitate to contact us!