I've seen so much fabulous piping in the gallery. I was wondering how you guys make such even patterns?

Is it very careful free-hand? Impression mat? Scrollwork.etc seems to be so evenly spaced on cakes, and I would love to be able to achieve that some day.

the only way I can do it right now is with either an impression mat, or a ruler and marking it out evenly - but I'm still a novice and haven't had much piping experience!