Software

Software & Tools for Pen Plotting

Generative-art software, plotting drivers and SVG tooling to drive your machine.

The software side of plotting trips up more beginners than the hardware. The good news: the best tools are free and open source. You need a way to make or import vector art, a way to optimize it, and a way to drive the machine — and free tools cover all three.

Inkscape designs and sends to the plotter, vpype optimizes any SVG so it plots faster and cleaner, and p5.js or Processing let you generate art from code. Our reviews and guides below cover the tools that actually matter and how to use them together.

Buying guide The Best Software for Pen Plotters in 2026 →

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Software

DrawingBotV3 DrawingBotV3 (Free)

Free, open-source software that turns photos into plottable line art — sketch, stipple and hatch styles that export clean SVGs for your plotter.

Best for: Converting photos into plottable sketches and stipple art

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Software

Inkscape Project Inkscape (Free)

The free, open-source vector editor that doubles as the native design and machine-control interface for AxiDraw and NextDraw plotters.

Best for: Design and machine control in one free application

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Software

Antoine Beyeler vpype (Free)

The command-line Swiss-army knife for pen plotter SVGs — optimizes, reorders, merges, crops and prepares vector files for cleaner, faster plots.

Best for: Everyone — mandatory step between generative art and plotting

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Software

Casey Reas & Ben Fry Processing: A Programming Handbook

The foundational Processing reference from the language's own creators — the bedrock under a huge amount of plotter art, and the book you keep open while you code.

Best for: Properly learning the language behind plotter art

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Software

Hartmut Bohnacker et al. Generative Design

A lavish, example-packed guide to visual programming for generative art in Processing — one of the best idea wells you can keep next to your plotter.

Best for: Finding generative forms worth plotting

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Software

Daniel Shiffman The Nature of Code

The book that teaches the generative-systems thinking behind great plotter art — flow fields, forces, noise and autonomous agents, all in approachable code.

Best for: Learning to generate art worth plotting

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What to look for in software

Vector editing: Inkscape (free) imports, edits and drives plotters via plugins — the hub of most workflows.
Optimization: vpype merges lines and reorders strokes, cutting plot time and pen lifts. The most important step people skip.
Generative tools: p5.js (browser) and Processing (desktop) make code-driven art and export SVG. Free and beginner-friendly.
Machine control: AxiDraw uses its Inkscape plugin/CLI; GRBL machines use senders like LaserGRBL. Match the tool to your plotter.

Related guides

From the blog

Frequently asked questions

What software do I need for a pen plotter?

At minimum a vector editor (Inkscape), an optimizer (vpype), and your plotter's controller (AxiDraw plugin or a GRBL sender). All are free.

What's the best free generative art software?

p5.js for beginners (runs in a browser) and Processing for desktop work — both free, both export SVG for plotting. vpype then optimizes the result.

Do I need to know how to code?

Not to plot existing SVGs. To make generative art, a little coding helps — but p5.js and Processing are designed for artists, and remixing examples is a legitimate way to start.