Chinese Dragons 

Using my Ender 3 3D printer and my custom pen attachment, I made a few different drawings of Chinese dragons. These started as an SVG vector drawing and using custom python code I converted them to G-code. To make it draw faster I merged each stroke in the original image at the nearest point to the next stroke. This lets me draw the whole image in one continuous stroke. I also make an optimization in the Bezier to line conversion so that if the line segments approximating the Bezier are tiny, I regenerate it using fewer segments.
This drawing also explores different media. I'm using a silver metallic pen on black paper, and for contrast a red pen on white card stock. The metallic pen creates a cool effect and the scales of the dragon almost get painted in. The ballpoint pen preserves a lot more details of the original vector drawing.
TOOLS & MATERIALS (affiliate)
- Creality Ender 3 3D Printer amzn.to/2AAO6ZQ
- Staedtler Triplus Rollerball Pens amzn.to/2UFL3q0
- 8.5x11, 90 lb/163 gsm Cardstock amzn.to/30HBv1r
- Dyvicl Metallic Markers amzn.to/3d1UG8M
- ARTEZA 9X12” Black Sketch Pad amzn.to/3hvO3io