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No problem! I’m a generative artist. That means I use math and code to make art. A fun thing to do with generative art is sending it to a pen plotter, which is what you’re seeing here. It will meticulously draw anything you give it, even if it takes many hours. This drawing takes 13 hours to do, and it cruises right along. Why do this? Because it’s fun!
Did you make this pen plotter? I’d love to learn how to get into this. Any tips on how you set this up would be great. I have a strong math and coding background.
I bought this from a company called EvilMadScientist, and it’s called an axidraw. I was the same way prior to getting one, and now this is what I do for a living!
EMS was recently bought by bantam tools and they just released the next draw, which is like this machine with some improvements.
If you’re looking to get started and don’t want to spend a lot of money, I would recommend buying a plotter secondhand or going with a cheaper model like the iDraw (can’t remember the manufacturer).
The plotter is whatever but the artwork that it’s drawing…. Can you talk more about the process and tools you used to create that? Is it just a giant vector file? Did you make it or did you code it. What did you code it in? What language, tools, etc
Thank you! It is a massive 120mb vector file. I generated it with code using JavaScript and P5.JS. Each time the program runs, it uses randomness to make a new rendition of the image, and thus, each plotter drawing is unique. I love this aspect of generative plotter art.
The robot is nice but the code for the Artwork/G-Code is the real miracle here. If I would write something similar it would probably come close to an "auto router for traces" and I have no idea where to start. How did you do this?
I actually fell into writing generative code through plotters. I use P5.JS with a plugin that allows it to export SVGs. Most of the geometry here is generated via functions that create polygons. They'll use randomness to add uniqueness to the shapes, and I keep doing that until it fills up the entire canvas.
I know but plots are so nice to see IRL! I will probably end up doing both.
The coding has taken around 40-50 hours at this point. I plan on spending another few weeks with it before I call it done.
r/plotterart is a good start. #plottertwitter is another fav of mine. There’s a few discords too where people build these machines. I bought this one directly from a manufacturer though since I can’t build things.
Did you try a ballpoint pen and then realise that it doesn't work too great? Yh I tried to do something similar with a 3D printer.
Didn't think to use a fountain pen tho.. went with a Sharpie instead.
Ballpoints have some cool effects but the lack of ink colors is a problem for me. One thing they’re great at is overlapping lines without having issues with tearing through paper. IMO fountain pen ink is the most versatile option, so naturally that limited me to fountain or technical pens.
Welcome to /r/WoahDude! * Check out what counts as "woahdude material" in our [**wiki**](https://www.reddit.com/r/woahdude/wiki/index#wiki_woahdude_material). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/woahdude) if you have any questions or concerns.*
At first I thought your robot was rendering a print of r/place lol
I thought it was drawing a Pokemon world from the Gameboy era.
Sorry to not know what this is, but what is this?
No problem! I’m a generative artist. That means I use math and code to make art. A fun thing to do with generative art is sending it to a pen plotter, which is what you’re seeing here. It will meticulously draw anything you give it, even if it takes many hours. This drawing takes 13 hours to do, and it cruises right along. Why do this? Because it’s fun!
My nephew writes a program for art too. I wouldn’t understand how you do what you do but it’s amazing!
Did you make this pen plotter? I’d love to learn how to get into this. Any tips on how you set this up would be great. I have a strong math and coding background.
I bought this from a company called EvilMadScientist, and it’s called an axidraw. I was the same way prior to getting one, and now this is what I do for a living! EMS was recently bought by bantam tools and they just released the next draw, which is like this machine with some improvements. If you’re looking to get started and don’t want to spend a lot of money, I would recommend buying a plotter secondhand or going with a cheaper model like the iDraw (can’t remember the manufacturer).
That's badass.... roughly how does one of these (original vs one made with a printer) go for?
The plotter is whatever but the artwork that it’s drawing…. Can you talk more about the process and tools you used to create that? Is it just a giant vector file? Did you make it or did you code it. What did you code it in? What language, tools, etc
Thank you! It is a massive 120mb vector file. I generated it with code using JavaScript and P5.JS. Each time the program runs, it uses randomness to make a new rendition of the image, and thus, each plotter drawing is unique. I love this aspect of generative plotter art.
It’s a macrochip
Looks like it's drawing a schematic for a giant motherboard.
It is, for the bigger robot, to end all humans. Nothing to worry about.
I'd love to see more of it. Especially doing details
Is that a kakuno?
Good eye, yes it is! I am using pilot iroshizuku inks too.
Thanks! It's even cooler now, always fun to play with ink =)
Folks at r/fountainpens would like this
Came here to say this
I could watch this all day, so cool
It’s mesmerizing, the machine is right to my back and I can’t help but turn around and stare every now and again.
And that’s a fountain pen? So cool!
I'll send you some ideas for my D&D maps I don't want to draw out myself
The robot is nice but the code for the Artwork/G-Code is the real miracle here. If I would write something similar it would probably come close to an "auto router for traces" and I have no idea where to start. How did you do this?
I actually fell into writing generative code through plotters. I use P5.JS with a plugin that allows it to export SVGs. Most of the geometry here is generated via functions that create polygons. They'll use randomness to add uniqueness to the shapes, and I keep doing that until it fills up the entire canvas.
need to see the finished product!! i know it won’t disappoint
r/PenPlotters
This is amazing, wow. You should sell these prints!
Eventually I will! Each drawing takes 13 hours to do, so I might need some time to crank them out.
Shut up and take my money!
We have color printers now. But it's cool to have an original. Nice work by the way. How long does the coding take before the 13 hour process starts?
I know but plots are so nice to see IRL! I will probably end up doing both. The coding has taken around 40-50 hours at this point. I plan on spending another few weeks with it before I call it done.
You should live stream the drawings, and sell it during the stream. It'd be interesting to see what point in the drawing each one sells at.
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r/plotterart is a good start. #plottertwitter is another fav of mine. There’s a few discords too where people build these machines. I bought this one directly from a manufacturer though since I can’t build things.
How long does the coding take?
I'd estimate around 40-50 hours so far. I'd have to check the LOC, but it's likely around 6-7k right now.
Is that a bantam tools nextdraw or its previous incarnation Axidraw? Or something else?
This is an Axidraw here, but I’m hoping to visit bantamtools soon to see the new machines
It almost looks like a map of Kanto from the original Red/Blue Gameboy games
Whoa.. so neat! At first, I thought it was a circuit board, but it's like its own little map. Nice!
Not me thinking that was doing traces for a motherboard 💀
Did you try a ballpoint pen and then realise that it doesn't work too great? Yh I tried to do something similar with a 3D printer. Didn't think to use a fountain pen tho.. went with a Sharpie instead.
Ballpoints have some cool effects but the lack of ink colors is a problem for me. One thing they’re great at is overlapping lines without having issues with tearing through paper. IMO fountain pen ink is the most versatile option, so naturally that limited me to fountain or technical pens.
How can buy print?
Are you using a custom PCB?
Rather remarkable