[Figure 7.3] Select Capture Pattern.

         3.          With the image selected, I go to the Patterns palette menu and select Capture Pattern. See Figure 7.3. I choose a name for my new pattern. I usually find that the default settings of Rectangular Tile and Bias at 0 percent work well. I click OK.

[Figure 7.4] Select Pattern Pens, Pattern Pen.

         4.          In my Pattern Selector, I can see my new pattern. It’s time for me to take it for a spin. I select Pattern Pens from the Brush Category, and under Brush Variant, I select Pattern Pen. See Figure 7.4.

[Figure 7.5] Use Brush Control to create perspective.

        5.          Now I draw! I see a chain that wraps with my strokes. I decide to change it so that it appears to work in perspective. Under the Brush Control palette (Window, Brush Controls), in the Size menu, I choose both the size (Size) and the minimum size (Min. Size) of my brush. This way, by using pen pressure as my tool for expression, I can draw the chains larger and smaller in space to make my image appear more three-dimensional. See Figure 7.5.

Try using your pattern as a painting tool by selecting Brush Variant, Pattern Chalk. You can really create some unique images.

[Figure 7.6] Create a Custom Brush palette.

         6.          I click and drag my new Pattern Brush from the brush selector menu. This creates a new palette with my Custom Pattern Brush — now at my fingertips’ convenience for future use. See Figure 7.6.

[Figure 7.7] Using Distortion, Distorto to create spikes on the chain.

         7.          After looking at the brush pattern, I decide I need to take it one step further. After all, because this is chain for Spawn, it could be a bit more evil looking. With my original chain pattern opened (the PNG file), I select Brush Category, Distortion and Brush Variant, Distorto. Now it’s easy for me to pull out spikes on my chain. See Figure 7.7. I follow my earlier steps to save this as a custom spiky-chain brush.