When a new pattern is created in Illustrator, which panel does it add to?

When a new pattern is created in Adobe Illustrator, it is added to the Swatches panel. This is because the Swatches panel is specifically designed to hold color swatches, gradient swatches, and patterns that can be easily reused throughout a document. By adding a pattern to the Swatches panel, users can quickly access and apply their custom pattern fills to shapes, backgrounds, or other objects within their Illustrator project.

The Appearance panel is used for managing the visual attributes of selected objects, such as fills, strokes, and effects, but it does not store patterns specifically. The Brushes panel contains brush definitions and styles rather than patterns, and while Patterns can sometimes be used in brushes, they are distinct elements. The Layers panel organizes and manages all objects and their hierarchy within the document, but it does not serve as a storage area for patterns or colors. Thus, the Swatches panel is the correct destination for new patterns created in Illustrator.