We　investigate　nanoscale　heat　transfer　and　heat-flux　overlapping　effects　in　nanopatterning　through　interactions　between　interferogram　produced　by　5-ns　laser　pulses　at　355　nm　and　gold　films.　These　mechanisms　played　different　roles　in　direct　writing　of　gold　nanolines　with　different　periods.　Continuous　gold　nanolines　were　produced　for　large　periods,　where　heat-flux　overlapping　is　too　small　to　effect　the　laser-metal　interactions.　Thus,　the　heat-transfer　distance　and　direct　laser-ablation　determined　the　width　of　resultant　gold　nanolines.　However,　gold　nanolines　consisting　of　isolated　gold　nanoparticles　were　produced　for　small　periods,　where　the　overlapped　heat-flux　exceeds　the　threshold　for　removing　or　melting　gold　films.　(C)　2014　Optical　Society　of　America