Sometimes I realize obvious things long after I wasted time doing something the hard or ugly way, please tell me I'm not alone on this.

I often use linked chain graphics for video games I'm working on and it's one of those repetative tasks that is a slowdown in the workflow.

It dawned on me that instead of duplicating some chain shape or layer over and over, transforming its angle each and every time, was idiotic!

A simple brush shape takes about 40 seconds to make and implement.

(click on thumbnails in this article to view larger)

First, make a graphic that represents two links, one face and one profile that looks like the first graphic in this post.

Then, in your Photoshop menu, choose Edit>Define Brushset.  Give it a chain-y name and the brush is done. Snap!

Open up a new doc and check your brush settings (if you don't have the tab already setup, hit F5 to bring up the brush settings).

On the first Brush Settings pane, choose your Spacing, just use the slider to make sure that the spacing of the chainlinks in the preview pane look pleasing to your eye and properly spaced for chains..  

Now to get the chains to follow the direction of your mouse/digipen.  In Brush Settings check the Shape Dynamics box and go to its pane. Under Angle Jitter choose Direction from the Control dropdown box as show in this example:

You're done.  I find that if you move your mouse/digipen slowly, the links tend to kink up or break apart; this can be remedied with faster, smoother strokes.  See below for the finished 40 second example.

Now of course you should make it better than this- like, add shading(or alpha) to the brush so that each link provides a little extra depth, maybe twist the profile of the chain a little so its not as fake looking, etc...

Go forth and be spectacular!