Patterns in Illustrator are easy to use, and they can be applied to fills, strokes, and even resized, rotated, or repositioned within an object. Illustrator comes with a large variety of preset patterns, and you can make your own from symbols or your own artwork. Let's look at applying patterns to an object, and then see how easy it is to resize, reposition, or even rotate the pattern within an object.
• Using Patterns in Illustrator

This Paint Shop Pro tutorial shows you how to create an elf or leprechaun in the extremely popular Manga style of cartoon drawing. Our elf is a Chibi, which is a cute and small version of Manga. Chibi characters are cheerful, adorable, mischievous and a lot of fun to create! You can dress your elf for St. Patrick's Day and send someone a shamrock with your holiday wishes!
• Draw a Chibi Elf or Leprechaun in Paint Shop Pro

This week's graphics challenge theme is Before Digital, dedicated to people like George Eastman who developed a film and camera system that revolutionized the photo industry. Bringing the ability of image capturing to the everyday person may be one of the biggest achievements in modern times. We've given you some starting images to develop any way you wish, the only rule is to use at least two of them. You can sit comfortably at your desk and not under a tent spreading emulsion over photographic plates. Have fun with it! Read more...

I've posted some new plaid layers styles, patterns, and seamless PNG files from Shelby Kate Schmitz. These are 24, all-new plaid patterns and styles in addition to the 84 plaid patterns Shelby gave us last year. Direct links to the new stuff are below, and you can still access the previous files from the navigation links within each page.
• 24 New Plaid Patterned Layer Styles
• Plaid Patterns Set 6
• Plaid Patterns Set 7
• Plaid Patterns in PNG Format 85 - 96
• Plaid Patterns in PNG Format 97 - 108