Abstract: A pattern based design tool includes a plurality of image building functions for generating visual content on an on-screen rendered area, or canvas, in which the canvas is responsive to graphical manipulations for changing the appearance of an image on the canvas. A plurality of available image building functions and image manipulation functions allow modification of the visual content on the canvas to generate a modified image, such that the canvas accumulates visual content in response to the functions. The accumulated image on the canvas is incorporated as a repeated pattern in successive drawing functions, such that the accumulated image defines a repeated portion of the successively applied drawing functions, and represents a hierarchy of previously entered images to define a sub pattern of entered items on the canvas. In this manner, a repeated pattern defines a sub-element of a drawing function.

Abstract: A pattern based design tool includes a plurality of image building functions for generating visual content on an on-screen rendered area, or canvas, in which the canvas is responsive to graphical manipulations for changing the appearance of an image on the canvas. A plurality of available image building functions and image manipulation functions allow modification of the visual content on the canvas to generate a modified image, such that the canvas accumulates visual content in response to the functions. The accumulated image on the canvas is incorporated as a repeated pattern in successive drawing functions, such that the accumulated image defines a repeated portion of the successively applied drawing functions, and represents a hierarchy of previously entered images to define a sub pattern of entered items on the canvas. In this manner, a repeated pattern defines a sub-element of a drawing function.