Nanotube films and articles and methods of making the same. A conductive article includes an aggregate of nanotube segments which contact other nanotube segments to define a plurality of conductive pathways along the article. Segments may have different lengths and may be shorter than the article. Conductive articles may be made on a substrate by forming a nanotube fabric on the substrate, and defining within the fabric a pattern corresponding to the conductive article. The nanotube fabric may be grown on the substrate using a catalyst, such as a gas phase a metallic gas phase catalyst. The nanotube fabric may be formed by depositing a solution of suspended nanotubes on the substrate, which may be spun to create a spin-coating of the solution. The solution may be deposited by dipping the substrate into the solution. The nanotube fabric may be formed by spraying an aerosol having nanotubes onto the substrate.