Phygital art with Plotters

Plotter art is a type of digital art created by computer-controlled drawing machines called plotters. It involves using code to tell the plotter what to draw, allowing for programmable, large-scale artistic creations. Read on to learn more about what plotter art is and how you can use an AxiDraw plotter to make your own designs.

Check out some of my plotter art

A nice example of perlin noise. with some masking.

White on black looks beautiful.

I used some watercolors to add an even more organic feel to this one.

What is Plotter Art?

A plotter is a printer that uses pens instead of ink to draw lines on paper. Traditional plotters were once used to print architectural blueprints and circuit designs. Today, artists have adapted this technology to create algorithmic drawings and robotic art.

Plotter art uses computer programs to control the movements of the machine and dictate the image. Designs can include geometric patterns, text, illustrations, and more. Artists write code or use visual programming languages to define their compositions.

The mechanical nature of plotter drawings produces imperfections like wobbles, overlaps, and varying line weights. This organic, handmade aesthetic is part of the charm. Plotter art merges digital design with physical execution.

How Does an AxiDraw Plotter Work?

AxiDraw is an open source pen plotter that can be built at home or purchased pre-assembled. It consists of two motion-control pens mounted on a frame to allow movement across the page in X and Y axes.

The AxiDraw connects to a computer via USB. You then use software like Adobe Illustrator or the AxiDraw Inkscape extension to define your art in vector paths. The program code gets sent to the machine which follows the paths with its motors and pens.

A key advantage of the AxiDraw is its precision control. You can adjust pen angle, speed, pressure, and more. This allows for delicate shading, intricate details, and nuanced lines. The AxiDraw makes beautiful plotter art accessible without an engineering background.

Creating Your Own Plotter Art with AxiDraw

Ready to start drawing with your AxiDraw? Here are some tips:

• Design in vector to define precise paths for the pens. Raster effects may not translate well.
• Use layers, strokes, and colors to plan out the drawing order and pen changes.
• Optimize long paths to reduce plotting time and pen lifts.
• Pick pens suitable for your paper to avoid bleeding and skipping.
• Start with simple designs and lower resolutions to get a feel for the process.
• Experiment with key settings like speed, pressure, and layering.
• Consider your page size, orientation, and mounting method.

With some practice, you'll be ready to create amazing artworks with your plotter! Learn by doing and allow your imagination to guide the machine.

More examples

In this example I loaded a 3D model of a psilocybin molecule (🍄), loaded it on blender, and exported the surface into an SVG.

By looping and warping line segments slightly on every iteration you can create some beautiful effects.