If you want to use an A4 pen plotter to write on smaller A6 sheets, you can create a simple A6 layout directly in Inkscape. With the UUNA TEK® iDraw Pen Plotter 2.0, you can divide an A4 workspace into four A6-sized sections, add your text, convert it into a single-line SVG font, and then plot the design onto paper.
In this tutorial, we’ll walk through the complete process, from preparing the Inkscape document to starting the writing process with the iDraw Pen Plotter 2.0.
Step 1: Prepare Inkscape and the iDraw Extension
Before starting, check that Inkscape is installed on your computer and that the required iDraw extension is available.
If the extension has not been installed yet, complete the installation first by following this guide:
How to Install the User Extension for Inkscape – iDraw Tutorials
After the installation is finished, launch Inkscape and create a new document.
Step 2: Set Up an A4 Document
Start by opening the document settings in Inkscape.
Go to:
File → Document Properties
Set the page size to A4.
The A4 page will serve as the working area for preparing the content that will be plotted by the iDraw Pen Plotter 2.0.
Step 3: Add A6 Reference Guides
The next step is to create guides that divide the A4 workspace into four areas corresponding to A6 paper.
In Document Properties, open the Grids section and click New.
Use the following grid spacing:
- Spacing X: 105 mm
- Spacing Y: 148.5 mm
These measurements match the standard dimensions of A6 paper and will be used as positioning references.
Step 4: Divide the A4 Workspace into Four A6 Sections
Once the grid has been configured, the A4 page will be visually separated into four A6-sized sections.
These reference lines help you determine where the content should be placed, making it easier to align the text with the actual A6 paper.
Step 5: Insert the Text You Want to Plot
Now you can add the content that you want the iDraw Pen Plotter 2.0 to write.
Choose the Text Tool in Inkscape and enter your desired text. Then move the text into the A6 reference area where you want the writing to appear.
If necessary, you can adjust the text size through Text and Font.
At this point, there is no need to select a special font. The text will be converted into a suitable single-line SVG font in the following step.
Step 6: Convert the Text to a Single-Line SVG Font
For pen plotting, the text needs to be converted into a format that can be drawn by the pen plotter.
In Inkscape, open:
Extensions → iDraw Utilities → Hershey Text
Under Font face, choose Other.
Then locate the Other SVG Font option and select the SVG single-line font you want to use.
Turn on Live preview to check the appearance of the converted text before applying the change.
When the result looks correct, click Apply.
Step 7: Verify the Text Position
After the Hershey Text function has been applied, the original text will be replaced by the selected single-line SVG font.
Take a moment to check the resulting text and its position. Make sure it remains correctly aligned within the intended A6 reference area.
This step helps ensure that the final writing position matches the paper placement.
Step 8: Load the Pen and Paper and Begin Plotting
With the Inkscape file prepared, it is time to set up the UUNA TEK® iDraw Pen Plotter 2.0.
Install the pen and place the paper on the machine according to your setup.
Once the machine and materials are ready, return to Inkscape and select:
Extensions → iDraw 2.0 Control → Apply
The iDraw Pen Plotter 2.0 will then start plotting the prepared text onto the paper.
Step 9: Watch the iDraw 2.0 Write the Text
After the command is applied, the iDraw Pen Plotter 2.0 follows the layout created in Inkscape and writes the prepared content onto the paper.
The following images show the machine during the plotting process and the finished writing result.
Conclusion
Using Inkscape together with the UUNA TEK® iDraw Pen Plotter 2.0 provides a straightforward way to prepare A6 writing on an A4 workspace.
By setting the document to A4, creating A6 reference guides, positioning the text, and converting it with the Hershey Text function into a single-line SVG font, you can prepare the file for pen plotting.
Once the layout is ready, simply install the pen and paper, apply the iDraw control extension, and let the iDraw Pen Plotter 2.0 reproduce the prepared text on the paper.
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