A fill pattern alignment system fills a geometric shape with a graphical cell in accordance with a pattern and aligned with the contours of the geometric shape. The intrinsic shape of the geometric shape being filled is determined and an orientation for the graphical cell at each location in the pattern is determined based on the intrinsic shape of the geometric shape. Accordingly, the orientation for each graphical cell being used to fill the geometric shape is variable based on the location of the graphical cell and the intrinsic shape of the geometric shape.