Vector Resources: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:36, 29 September 2021

Vectors are machine-readable images used in pen plotting, laser cutting, CNC routing, and other machine-driven machines. Not sure what a vector is? See Vector or Raster? for more info.

Desktop Programs

Inkscape is my personal favorite: free, easy to use (once you get the hang of vector creation) with built-in bitmap-to-vector conversion
Adobe Illustrator is the industry standard, but expensive. You have access as a student—see the photo teacher for details

Web Programs

Vectr.com is a simple tool for vector creation, with the option for tracing
Cuttle is made for laser cutters specifically, but is a solid tool for creating vectors online
SketchUp is a 3d modeling tool, but can be used for vector creation

Web Art Generators

These are great for the drawing machines or laser, but will take some post-processing (possibly in Inkscape) for use in the vinyl cutter

Plotterfun takes an image and renders it as a plottable SVG. Lots of algorithms!
Slopes renders a stacked wave plot similar to that famous Joy Division album cover
Drawingbots.net plenty of tools
revdancatt's image generators
Triangle divider
UJI

Image Sources

Dimensions.com has a startling array of clean vectors to download
Template Maker and Boxes.py for all your box needs. Great for the laser or vinyl cutter
Flower generator and beetle generator by bleeptrack

Vector Artists/Inspiration

Jason Webb
Manolo Gamboa Naon
Checkout the #plottertwitter hashtag on Twitter

Generators That Require Coding

Snowflakes in Python, by Michael Fogleman

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 * [https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html Adobe Illustrator] is the industry standard, but expensive. You have access as a student—see the photo teacher for details
-===Web Generators===
+===Web Programs===
+* [https://vectr.com/ Vectr.com] is a simple tool for vector creation, with the option for tracing
+* [https://cuttle.xyz/ Cuttle] is made for laser cutters specifically, but is a solid tool for creating vectors online
+* [[SketchUp on a Chromebook|SketchUp]] is a 3d modeling tool, but can be used for vector creation
+===Web Art Generators===
+These are great for the [[Drawing Machines|drawing machines]] or [[Laser|laser]], but will take some post-processing (possibly in Inkscape) for use in the [[Vinyl Cutter|vinyl cutter]]
 * [https://mitxela.com/plotterfun/ Plotterfun] takes an image and renders it as a plottable SVG. Lots of algorithms!
 * [https://tinkersynth.com/slopes Slopes] renders a stacked wave plot similar to that famous Joy Division album cover