Better patterning methods, including for better methods for forming biomolecular arrays, including a method comprising: providing a tip and a substrate surface, disposing a patterning composition at the end of the tip, depositing at least some of the patterning composition from the tip to the substrate surface to form a deposit disposed on the substrate surface, wherein the patterning composition comprises at least one lipid, optionally at least one solvent, and at least one patterning species different from the lipid and the optional solvent. The lipid can be a phospholipid such as DOPC. The patterning species can be an oligonucleotide or a protein. Microarrays and nanoarrays can be prepared including nanoscale resolution of deposits. The lipid can activate patterning or increase the rate of patterning. Simplified tip preparation can be achieved. Nanoscopic, SPM, and AFM tips can be used.