Vector Resources

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 Generators

• 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

See also

• Generative Art
• Open Source Software
• Awesome Plotters list