Tools
Printer: AxiDraw
All my plotter work is printed using an AxiDraw V3 pen plotter. I’m constantly amazed by its speed and precision — there’s something hypnotic about the way it prints. I've started with the standard A4 size, but keep eyeing up the larger format ones! One day…
Paper
I’m not set on a particular paper type yet. Whilst experimenting, I'm using some old off-white square(ish) paper I've had around the house for ages. It's too lightweight for anything fancy, but it's good enough for rough plots.
For anything slightly nicer, I’m using Strathmore Bristol and Fabriano Black Black, which a lot of plotters seem to recommend.
Pens
I’ve amassed quite a collection already — some I had already, others I bought for their archival long-lasting ink. It’s interesting playing with the different brands and inks to see how well they plot and to see what effects playing with plotting speed has on them.
I’ve listed a fair few of them below, mostly for my own records but also so I can reference them and use their colours as accents around this site.
Pens: Stabilo
Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmNeon Yellow, 88/024Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmNeon Blue, 88/031Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmNeon Green, 88/033Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmNeon Red, 88/040Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmNeon Orange, 88/054Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmNeon Pink, 88/056Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmIce Blue, 88/11Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmIce Green, 88/13Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmLight Emerald, 88/16Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmHeliotrope, 88/17Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmPurple, 88/19Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmNight Blue, 88/22Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmLemon Yellow, 88/24Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmApricot, 88/26Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmLight Pink, 88/29Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmPale Vermillion, 88/30Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmLight Blue, 88/31Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmUltramarine, 88/32Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmApple Green, 88/33Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmEmerald Green, 88/36Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmSanguine, 88/38Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmRed, 88/40Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmDark Blue, 88/41Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmLeaf Green, 88/43Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmYellow, 88/44Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmBrown, 88/45Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmBlack, 88/46Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmLight Red, 88/48Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmCrimson, 88/50Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmTurquoise Blue, 88/51Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmPine Green, 88/53Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmOrange, 88/54Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmViolet, 88/55Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmPink, 88/56Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmAzure, 88/57Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmLilac, 88/58Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmLight Lilac, 88/59Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmOlive Green, 88/63Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmUmber, 88/65Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmSienna, 88/75Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmLight Ochre, 88/88Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmDark Ochre, 88/89Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmLight Grey, 88/94Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmMedium Cold Grey, 88/95Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmDark Grey, 88/96Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmDeep Cold Grey, 88/97Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
— 0.4mmPayne`s Grey, 88/98
Pens: Sakura Pigma
Sakura Pigma Micron 01
— 0.25mmBlack, XSDK01#49, Archival inkSakura Pigma Micron 03
— 0.35mmBlack, XSDK03#49, Archival inkSakura Pigma Micron 05
— 0.45mmBlack, XSDK05#49, Archival inkSakura Pigma Micron 08
— 0.5mmBlack, XSDK08#49, Archival inkSakura Pigma Graphic 1
— 1.0mmBlack, XSDK1#49, Archival inkSakura Pigma Brush
— VariableBlack, XSDK-BR#49, Archival inkSakura Pigma Micron PN
— 0.4–0.5mmRed, XSDK-PN#19, Archival inkSakura Pigma Micron PN
— 0.4–0.5mmPurple, XSDK-PN#24, Archival inkSakura Pigma Micron PN
— 0.4–0.5mmBlue, XSDK-PN#36, Archival ink
Pens: Sakura Gelly Roll
Sakura Gelly Roll
— 0.3mm (05)White, XPGB05#50, Archival inkSakura Gelly Roll
— 0.4mm (08)White, XPGB08#50, Archival inkSakura Gelly Roll
— 0.5mm (10)White, XPGB10#50, Archival inkSakura Gelly Roll
— 0.3mm (06)Black, XPGB#49, Archival inkSakura Gelly Roll Stardust
— 0.5mm (10)Clear Star, XPGB#700Sakura Gelly Roll Moonlight
— 0.5mm (10)Fluorescent Yellow, XPGB10#403Sakura Gelly Roll Moonlight
— 0.5mm (10)Fluorescent Orange, XPGB10#405Sakura Gelly Roll Moonlight
— 0.5mm (10)Fluorescent Vermilion, XPGB10#418Sakura Gelly Roll Moonlight
— 0.5mm (10)Red, XPGB10#419, Archival inkSakura Gelly Roll Moonlight
— 0.5mm (10)Fluorescent Pink, XPGB10#420Sakura Gelly Roll Moonlight
— 0.5mm (10)Rose, XPGB10#421, Archival inkSakura Gelly Roll Moonlight
— 0.5mm (10)Purple, XPGB10#424, Archival inkSakura Gelly Roll Moonlight
— 0.5mm (10)Fluorescent Green, XPGB10#427, Archival inkSakura Gelly Roll Moonlight
— 0.5mm (10)Green, XPGB10#429, Archival inkSakura Gelly Roll Moonlight
— 0.5mm (10)Blue, XPGB10#436, Archival inkSakura Gelly Roll Metallic
— 0.5mm (10)Gold, XPGB-M#551, Archival inkSakura Gelly Roll Metallic
— 0.5mm (10)Silver, XPGB-M#553, Archival ink
Pens: Staedtler
Staedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.05mmBlack, 308 005-9, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.1mmBlack, 308 01-9, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.2mmBlack, 308 02-9, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.3mmBlack, 308 03-9, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.5mmBlack, 308 05-9, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.8mmBlack, 308 08-9, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 1.2mmBlack, 308 12-9, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.3mmLight Brown, 308 03-7, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.3mmYellow, 308 03-10, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.3mmLight Blue, 308 03-30, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.3mmLight Green, 308 03-51, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.3mmFuchsia, 308 03-61, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.3mmGrey, 308 03-82, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.5mmRed, 308 05-2, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.5mmBlue, 308 05-3, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.5mmOrange, 308 05-4, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.5mmGreen, 308 05-5, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.5mmPurple, 308 05-6, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.5mmLight Brown, 308 05-7, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.5mmYellow, 308 05-10, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.5mmLight Blue, 308 05-30, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.5mmLight Green, 308 05-51, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.5mmFuchsia, 308 05-61, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.5mmBrown, 308 05-76, Archival inkStaedtler Pigment Liner
— 0.5mmGrey, 308 05-82, Archival ink
Pens: uni PIN
uni PIN Fine Line
— 0.03mmBlack, PIN 003-200 BLACK, Archival inkuni PIN Fine Line
— 0.05mmBlack, PIN 005-200 BLACK, Archival inkuni PIN Fine Line
— 0.1mmBlack, PIN 01-200 BLACK, Archival inkuni PIN Fine Line
— 0.3mmBlack, PIN 03-200 BLACK, Archival inkuni PIN Fine Line
— 0.5mmBlack, PIN 05-200 BLACK, Archival inkuni PIN Fine Line
— 0.8mmBlack, PIN 08-200 BLACK, Archival inkuni PIN Fine Line
— 1.2mmBlack, PIN 12-200 BLACK, Archival inkuni PIN Fine Line Brush
— VariableBlack, PIN BR-200 BLACK, Archival inkuni PIN Fine Line
— 0.1mmDark Grey, PIN 01-200 DARK GREY, Archival inkuni PIN Fine Line
— 0.1mmLight Grey, PIN 01-200 LIGHT GREY, Archival inkuni PIN Fine Line
— 0.1mmSepia, PIN 01-200 SEPIA, Archival inkuni PIN Fine Line
— 0.5mmSepia, PIN 05-200 SEPIA, Archival ink
Pens: uni POSCA
uni POSCA PC-1M
— 0.7mmWhite, Bullet Shapeduni POSCA PC-1MR
— 0.7mmWhite, Pin Typeuni POSCA PC-3ML
— 0.9-1.3mmGlitter Violet, Bullet Shapeduni POSCA PC-3ML
— 0.9-1.3mmWhite, Bullet Shapeduni POSCA PC-5M
— 1.8-2.5mmWhite, Bullet Shapeduni POSCA PC-5M
— 1.8-2.5mmFluo Pink, Bullet Shapeduni POSCA PC-7M
— 4.5-5.5mmWhite, Bullet Shapeduni POSCA PC-350
— VariableWhite, Brushuni POSCA PC-351
— VariableBlack, Brush
Pens: uni-ball Eye
uni-ball Eye Broad
— 1.0mmBlack, UB-150-10, Archival inkuni-ball Eye Broad
— 1.0mmBlue, UB-150-10, Archival inkuni-ball Eye Broad
— 1.0mmRed, UB-150-10, Archival ink
Pens: uni-ball Signo
uni-ball Signo Metallic
— 0.8mmBlue, UM-120NM, Archival inkuni-ball Signo Metallic
— 0.8mmBronze, UM-120NM, Archival inkuni-ball Signo Metallic
— 0.8mmGold, UM-120NM, Archival inkuni-ball Signo Metallic
— 0.8mmGreen, UM-120NM, Archival inkuni-ball Signo Metallic
— 0.8mmPink, UM-120NM, Archival inkuni-ball Signo Metallic
— 0.8mmRed, UM-120NM, Archival inkuni-ball Signo Metallic
— 0.8mmSilver, UM-120NM, Archival inkuni-ball Signo Metallic
— 0.8mmViolet, UM-120NM, Archival inkuni-ball Signo Broad Metallic
— 1.0mmGold, UM-153, Archival inkuni-ball Signo Broad Metallic
— 1.0mmSilver, UM-153, Archival inkuni-ball Signo Broad Metallic
— 1.0mmWhite, UM-153, Archival ink
Pens: Pilot
Pilot Hi-Tecpoint V7
— 0.4mmBlack
Pens: Windsor & Newton
Windsor & Newton Fineliner
— 0.1mmBlack, Archival inkWindsor & Newton Fineliner
— 0.3mmBlack, Archival inkWindsor & Newton Fineliner
— 0.5mmBlack, Archival inkWindsor & Newton Fineliner
— 0.8mmBlack, Archival inkWindsor & Newton Fineliner
— 1.0mmBlack, Archival inkWindsor & Newton Promarker
— Fine Bullet & Broad ChiselPetrol Blue, C824Windsor & Newton Promarker
— Fine Bullet & Broad ChiselStorm Cloud, BG05Windsor & Newton Promarker
— Fine Bullet & Broad ChiselVerdigris, C426Windsor & Newton Promarker
— Fine Bullet & Broad ChiselPale Blossom, M419Windsor & Newton Promarker
— Fine Bullet & Broad ChiselCadet Blue, B336Windsor & Newton Promarker
— Fine Bullet & Broad ChiselCloud Blue, B318Windsor & Newton Promarker
— Fine Bullet & Broad ChiselPebble Blue, C217Windsor & Newton Promarker
— Fine Bullet & Broad ChiselPesto, Y923Windsor & Newton Promarker
— Fine Bullet & Broad ChiselHerb Green, Y524Windsor & Newton Promarker
— Fine Bullet & Broad ChiselSaddle Brown, O345Windsor & Newton Promarker
— Fine Bullet & Broad ChiselPraline, O837Windsor & Newton Promarker
— Fine Bullet & Broad ChiselChampagne, Y217Windsor & Newton Promarker
— Fine Bullet & Broad ChiselFirebrick, R735Windsor & Newton Promarker Brush
— Brush & Broad ChiselAmber, O567Windsor & Newton Pigment Marker
— Fine Bullet & Broad ChiselRoyal Blue Light, 020247, Archival ink
Pens: Artline
Artline 200
— 0.4mmLight BlueArtline 200
— 0.4mmMagentaArtline 200
— 0.4mmYellowArtline 200
— 0.4mmBlack
Pens: Noodler's
Noodler's Konrad Piston Flex Fountain Pen
— 0.8–2mmRefillable, Clear DemonstratorNoodler's Konrad Piston Rollerball Pen
— MediumRefillable, Clear Demonstrator
Pens: rOtring
rOtring Isograph
— 0.25mmRefillablerOtring Isograph
— 0.35mmRefillablerOtring Isograph
— 0.5mmRefillable
Ink
Noodler’s Ink
— Blue GhostBullet Proof, Fluorescent, InvisibleNoodler’s Ink
— TurquoiseDiamine Shimmer
— Peacock FlareTeal with a hint of silver, silver flecks running throughDiamine Shimmer
— Arctic BlueArctic Blue with a hint of silver, silver flecks running throughDiamine Gibson Les Paul
— Cherry SunburstBased on the famous guitar finishDiamine Cult Pens Iridescink
— Little PipPurple with gold sheenHerbin
— PhosphorescentGlow in the dark, InvisiblerOtring Isograph
— BlackrOtring Isograph
— White