Getting started
Learn to plot your art
Forgeplot makes the artwork; your pen plotter draws it. Here's the whole path, start to finish — plus wallpapers, tips, and everything else people ask.
How to plot your art
- A pen plotterAn AxiDraw, an iDraw / UUNA TEK, or a similar XY pen machine.
- A computerMac or PC to run the plotter — it connects by USB, so the drawing is sent from a computer, not directly from your iPhone or iPad.
- Free plotter softwareInkscape + AxiDraw extension, or saxi — see step 4 below.
- Pens and paperWhatever suits your machine and the piece.
Make your piece
In Forgeplot, tap Export → Plotter (SVG).
Pick your machine
Choose from the presets (AxiDraw, iDraw, or set a custom size). Forgeplot sizes the art to your plotter's drawing area and keeps it inside a safe margin.
Send the file to your computer
Save to Files/iCloud, or AirDrop it straight to your Mac. You'll get an .svg file.
Open it in your plotter software and press plot
- Inkscape + the AxiDraw extension (free) — open the SVG, then Extensions → AxiDraw → Plot. Works for AxiDraw and most compatible machines.
- saxi (free, beginner-friendly) — drag the SVG in and hit plot; it drives the AxiDraw over USB with a simple preview.
- Your machine's own app — iDraw / UUNA TEK and others ship their own plotting software; the exported SVG works there too.
Load a pen, clip your paper, and plot
If your piece uses more than one pen color, the software will pause between colors so you can swap pens.
That's it — the file is already optimized (the pen takes the shortest path) and organized by pen color, so you don't have to prep anything by hand.
Multiple pens? Forgeplot puts each color on its own layer, in drawing order. Your plotter software draws one color, pauses, and waits for you to switch pens before the next.
Save it as a wallpaper or print
Not plotting today? Every piece also exports as a crisp image.
Tap Export → Wallpaper / Print.
Pick a size — your iPhone, your iPad, a Mac desktop, 4K, or square for social.
Choose Recompose (regenerates the piece to fill that exact shape — recommended) or Fit (keeps the plotter composition, adds a border).
Save to Photos, then set it as your wallpaper from there.
Because the art is true vector, it's razor-sharp at any size, and a wallpaper always matches its plotter twin.
Tips for great plots
- 01 Start simple.A single-pen piece on plain paper is the fastest way to a great first result. Add colors and complexity once you know your machine.
- 02 Match the pen to the setting.Fine liners (like a 0.3–0.5 mm Micron) suit detailed work; set the pen width in the app so shading and hatching space themselves correctly for your pen.
- 03 Good paper matters.Smooth, heavier paper (marker or mixed-media stock) drags less and bleeds less than copy paper.
- 04 Watch the plot time.Dense pieces (fine hatching, TSP portraits) can take a while — the plot preview shows an estimate before you commit ink.
- 05 Save the recipe.Loved a result? It's stored by seed and settings, so you can plot it again later at a different size or on different paper — identically.
FAQ
Do I need a pen plotter to use the app?
No. You can make and export wallpapers and prints without one. A plotter just lets you draw your art with a real pen.
Which plotters work?
AxiDraw, iDraw / UUNA TEK, and most XY pen plotters that accept SVG. The app includes size presets for common models, plus a custom size for anything else.
Can I plot straight from my iPhone or iPad?
Not directly — pen plotters connect to a computer over USB, so you export the file and plot it from your Mac or PC. The app makes that handoff one tap (AirDrop or Files).
What's "single-line" / "single-stroke" art?
A pen plotter draws with a single pen, so everything is lines — no solid fills. Forgeplot builds every design this way from the start, which is why it plots cleanly (and why the art has that distinctive drawn look).
Why SVG?
SVG is the standard file that pen-plotter software reads, and it stays perfectly sharp at any size. It's also how the app keeps your plot and your wallpaper looking identical.
Can I turn a photo into art?
Yes — some styles take a photo (from your library or camera) and redraw it as hatching or as one continuous line.
Can I sell what I make?
The art you create is yours to print, plot, and sell.