Vector Tutorials by Sidux

The clone tool can be used to clone text - the advantage of this is that you can apply effects (eg shadow/reflections etc) to multiple cloned text objects, and these can be dynamically updated by modifying the text in the master text object.

The "Create Tiled Clones" Inkscape feature offers the ability to generate some interesting tiled patterns based on a master object, however the most exciting option (imo) is the ability to render a representation of an underlying image using tiled cloned svg objects.