r/PlotterArt 27d ago

Community Update: Re-centering r/plotterart on Physical Output (Moving code discussions to r/plottercode)

34 Upvotes

​Hey everyone,

​When we created this sub 10 years ago, some of the tools, technologies, and massive interest that we have today simply didn't exist yet. The landscape has changed immensely, and we truly enjoy seeing all of it develop. But just as we did back then, we want to keep this sub focused on the art first.

​Whether you are using a dedicated pen plotter, a Cricut, a CNC machine with a pen attachment, a modified 3D printer, or a completely custom-built rig—if a machine physically drew it, we want to see it. With the rise of incredibly cool new tools—from AI assistants to vibe-coded scripts—there has been a massive influx of code-heavy posts, software toolsets, and script discussions. To be absolutely clear: we love that people are finding new, innovative ways to write code. There is zero judgment here on how you generate your paths!

​However, we’ve noticed that pure code topics are starting to crowd out the physical art. Over time, our subreddit rules and mod removal reasons have become overly deep and complicated to navigate.

​Streamlining the Rules: What Goes Where

​To fix this, we will be wiping the slate clean and drastically streamlining our rule set. We want to keep this sub grounded with a simple, easily understood framework so everyone knows exactly what to expect. Moving forward, we are dividing content cleanly between our two subs:

​What to post here (r/plotterart): This is an Art-First sub. Every post must lead with an image or video of a physical output (or a genuine physical attempt). You are still more than welcome to ask "how do I fix this bleeding?" or "how can I improve this layout?", but it must be anchored to a physical piece of art you are actively working on.

​What to post in r/plottercode: If your post is primarily showcasing code blocks, discussing script development, sharing generative algorithms, or offering software/tools for sale, please post it in our sister sub. It is the perfect dedicated space for the technical side of the hobby to thrive.

​By drawing this clear line, we can keep r/plotterart focused on the visual craft of machine-drawn art without bogged-down rule sets, while giving coding discussions the spotlight they deserve over at r/plottercode.

​The sidebar rules will be updated to reflect this new, simplified approach. Thank you all for being such an awesome, creative community for the last decade, and for helping us keep the sub focused!

​The Streamlined Sidebar Rules

​1. Physical Output First

​All posts must feature a physical art piece, a plot-in-progress, or a physical attempt. This includes work from traditional pen plotters, CNC machines with pen attachments, vinyl cutters (Cricut/Silhouette), modified 3D printers, or any machine-drawn derivative.

​2. No Pure Code or Software Posts (Use r/plottercode)

​Pure code blocks, script showcases, algorithm discussions, and software/tool sales belong in r/plottercode. Posts here must focus on the physical artistic result. Technical questions are allowed only if attached to a physical plot attempt.

​3. Keep it Civil & Authentically Yours

​Be respectful of other artists. Content must be your own work or clearly credited to the original creator. No low-effort spam.


r/PlotterArt 5h ago

Hand-vectored from a scan in a book - a blueprint of the (possibly not real) Aurora hypersonic spy plane. Xdraw + Gethpen 0.6 white gel pen + Pilot Juice Up 0.4 white gel pen. 11x14. Upcycled frame.

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19 Upvotes

r/PlotterArt 19h ago

More procedural power lines (process video in comments)

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101 Upvotes

r/PlotterArt 1d ago

Orbital

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158 Upvotes

r/PlotterArt 23h ago

OC Rhino plots

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36 Upvotes

I'm in the midst of transitioning from AutoCAD to Rhino. The more I get into Rhino (and Grasshopper!) the more I wish I had made the transition years ago. Just getting started but already finding new and rewarding work flows. In these quick test pieces I'm wrapping a solid 3D surfaces with some 2D line work and project the results to a flat plane to plot. So many exciting things I can't wait to get into.


r/PlotterArt 19h ago

One Single Blue Line

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13 Upvotes

Ball point pen on Roland clone… hours of fun.


r/PlotterArt 2d ago

Flower_1

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84 Upvotes

r/PlotterArt 2d ago

"The Record"

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52 Upvotes

I keep coming back to circles. 4 different layers, all slightly off centre or sized.

For this particular plot, first layer was a silver Zebra brush marker, then 4 layers of Zebra Sarasa, and 1 last redo of the first layer in the green micron.

There's some really nice layering in the colours that aren't first apparent, and I love how the Sarasa layers appear & disappear at times.

Done in processing & printed with inkscape, A3 sized Canson paper.


r/PlotterArt 2d ago

Brushpen Hare

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14 Upvotes

r/PlotterArt 3d ago

Microscopic Organisms

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79 Upvotes

I had an idea of how microscopic creatures like plankton resemble graphs, so I made a procedural algorithm and plotted some of the results.

Algorithm:

  • Start with one node.
  • Repeatedly choose nodes in the graph to add node lines, node "ladders", or node clusters.
  • Apply a spring graph layout algorithm to make the nodes expand.

r/PlotterArt 3d ago

OC Octopus 01

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220 Upvotes

18x24" 240# hot press watercolor paper.

TWSBI Vac 700r fountain pen, med nib.

7x fountain pen inks: Amber, Poppy Red, Burgundy, Aurora Borealis, Silver Fox, fuyu-syogun, Jet Black.

About 8h10m total plot time.

Toolpaths generated in DrawingbotV3.

Normally I plot my own photography, but I wanted to do an octopus and don't have scuba gear or underwater photography rig so: found a solid pic on the Internets.

Really pleased with the results.


r/PlotterArt 3d ago

OC Auric Strata 1

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134 Upvotes

Pen plotter combined with hand applied gold leaf. The design is generated with what I would consider some pretty typical flow field methods. I had the algorithm exclude certain flow paths from its output to leave negative space which I could then go in and fill with gold leaf. I really like these kind of hybrid approaches that allow me to stay engaged physically with the process. I often like to think of my work as where unthinking autonomous process, machine and man meet. I find it more fun that way as well.


r/PlotterArt 4d ago

Perlin Loop

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121 Upvotes

r/PlotterArt 4d ago

OC sailboat

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94 Upvotes

Made with a frankensteined ender-3.


r/PlotterArt 5d ago

Plotting custom maps with OpenStreetMap and Natural Earth data

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168 Upvotes

I’ve been experimenting with plotting custom maps, including overlaying GPX routes, which is useful for plotting a trip, hike, or long-distance run. OpenStreetMap works well for detailed local maps, while Natural Earth has proved to be a better fit for larger-scale maps.

For this, I added map-layer support to my macOS app, GD Studio. It lets me choose which features to include—such as roads, streets, and water—and separate them into layers so they can be plotted with different pens.

I’m still experimenting with how much detail works before the map becomes too visually busy, although I do like the texture that a layer of buildings adds.


r/PlotterArt 5d ago

OC Orange Grid

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84 Upvotes

Micron orange 005 and sepia 05 on coffee stained A4 mixed media paper


r/PlotterArt 5d ago

Ancient port of Rhodes

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17 Upvotes

I wanted to create a semifictional map. This plot combines openstreetmap data of Rhodes, Greece:

  • streets
  • objects tagged as ruins (you can see the ancient city walls)
  • and sea lanes

The asemic script is generated similar to the approach described in inconvergent.net . I reimplemented id and it lead to some different outcomes. The script on the plot is supposed to mimic the title and legend layout of old maps you find in antique shops.


r/PlotterArt 5d ago

OC Griffin Head in Turing Pattern

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14 Upvotes

Single line plot of a griffin head. Part of the workflow includes Physarum Type tool by Maxense Duterne.


r/PlotterArt 5d ago

OC Space face 👩🏼‍🚀

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109 Upvotes

r/PlotterArt 5d ago

OC Two shades of Kitty-Cab and a variantion

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5 Upvotes

plotted and scanned a while ago.

First Image had a additional lithopane step in it, second and third are simpler and share the same STL base.
What do you think?


r/PlotterArt 6d ago

Just received this by mail

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137 Upvotes

Amazing work from Joel Cammarata just arrived by mail!


r/PlotterArt 6d ago

OC Is it ok to post AI based Plotts too?

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16 Upvotes

I am new here, and work since a few years with a repurposed 3D printer as Plotter and transform AI images with Blender into slicable STL files.
I hope that workflow is Ok here too? :)


r/PlotterArt 7d ago

Pen plotting on an iPad

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125 Upvotes

iPad plugged into laptop, Quicktime set to the iPad screen, code reading the contents of the quicktime window, and corners of the iPad screen mapped to position in physical space.

Cursor movements and clicks can be converted to x,y positions for the plotter, which is controlled via the BantamTools python library.

It now "knows" how to create new documents, pick colours from the colour palette, and change brushes. Digital svgs to, ummmmmmm, digital output, with a tiny (and some would say pointless) analogue step in the middle 😁


r/PlotterArt 6d ago

OC Metallic Green Seahorse

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12 Upvotes

2.5x3.5 inch ATC format card.

Metallic green Gelly roll on black card stock. One continuous line in a loop. #1penup


r/PlotterArt 7d ago

Finding SVG Files.

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17 Upvotes

Had seen these types of things, and want a few for my friends upcoming birthday.

Does anyone has any idea, how can these be made??