Map to Pen Plot

Turn Any Place on Earth Into Pen Plot Art

Frame a neighborhood, city, or coastline from OpenStreetMap and generate layered line art for your 3D pen plotter. Add a GPX route, drop markers, write a caption, and export per-layer G-code — all in the browser.

Included in the Creator Bundle alongside pen plotting, String Art, Wax Seal, and 3D to SVG tools.

OpenStreetMap worldwideMulti-pen layer exportGPX trips & captionsBambu Lab, Prusa, Creality
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See Map to Pen Plot in Action

How Map to Pen Plot Works

From framing a map to downloading layered G-code — five steps, about ten minutes.

Step 1· 1 min

Frame Any Place on Earth

Search for a city, neighborhood, or landmark and drag the frame to choose exactly what gets plotted. Paper presets (A5–A2) and margins keep the map sized for your printer bed.

  • Interactive OpenStreetMap picker with search
  • Adjustable frame size and paper presets
  • Detail slider from simplified to full street network
  • Works worldwide — any latitude and longitude
Framing Lower Manhattan on the OpenStreetMap area picker in 3DPlotter
Search, pan, and frame the exact map area you want to plot.
Step 2· 1 min

Generate Layered Line Art

Toggle pen layers for water, green space, buildings, minor roads, major roads, and rail. Each layer becomes its own color on the plotter — perfect for multi-pen setups.

  • Six map feature layers with individual colors
  • Roads split into major and minor for cleaner plots
  • Instant vector preview on a plotter grid
  • Direct SVG export from the map tool
Generated pen plot line art of a city map with water and road layers
Roads, water, and coastlines rendered as clean single-stroke paths.
Step 3· 2 min

Add Trips, Markers & Captions

Draw a route on the map, import a GPX track, drop location markers, and add a title in any Hershey single-stroke font. Ideal for travel maps, marathon routes, and personalized gifts.

  • Draw trips directly on the map or import GPX files
  • Start/end markers with adjustable size
  • Caption under the map with font and alignment controls
  • Trip line weight preview matches pen output
City map pen plot with a drawn trip route and The big apple caption
Overlay a GPX or hand-drawn route and add a custom title.
Step 4· 1 min

Open in 3DPlotter & Fine-Tune

Send the map to the main plotter board with one click. Scale, rotate, and combine it with text or other elements before exporting — the map lands at the same size as the preview.

  • One-click import to the plotter canvas
  • Scale, rotate, and position on your paper
  • Combine with text, patterns, or other artwork
  • Real-time bed preview for your printer
Imported city map on the 3DPlotter canvas with scale and rotate controls
Fine-tune layout on the plotter board before export.
Step 5· 1 min

Export Multi-Layer G-code

Export all layers combined or as separate G-code files per layer for multi-color plotting. Path optimization is applied automatically for shorter draw times.

  • Export by layer for multi-pen color changes
  • Printer-specific G-code with pen lift settings
  • ZIP download with one file per layer
  • SVG export for laser cutters or design tools
3DPlotter export dialog showing per-layer G-code export for a city map
Choose layers and download optimized G-code or SVG.

Built for Real Map Plotting

OpenStreetMap Data

Real streets, waterways, parks, buildings, and railways from OpenStreetMap — not a stylized placeholder.

Multi-Pen Layers

Each map feature type is its own pen layer. Plot water in blue, roads in black, parks in green — change pens between files.

GPX & Drawn Trips

Import a recorded run, ride, or hike from GPX, or sketch a route directly on the map.

Location Markers

Drop pins for favorite spots, hotels, or event venues. Pick from the shape library or use built-in marker styles.

Single-Stroke Captions

Add a title under the map using Hershey fonts designed for pen plotters — no filled text, just clean lines.

Paper-Aware Output

A5, A4, A3, A2 presets and custom sizes keep the map proportional to your paper and printer bed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Map to Pen Plot?+
Map to Pen Plot is a 3DPlotter tool that converts a framed OpenStreetMap area into pen plotter line art. You choose a location, toggle map layers (roads, water, buildings, etc.), optionally add a trip route or caption, and export G-code for your 3D pen plotter.
Do I need internet to generate a map?+
Yes. The map tool fetches OpenStreetMap vector data for your selected area when you click Generate. Once generated, the paths live in your browser and can be exported without additional requests.
Can I plot a GPX running or cycling route on a map?+
Yes. Import a GPX file or draw a trip directly on the map. The route is plotted on its own pen layer with optional start and end markers, separate from the street network.
How do I plot a map in multiple colors?+
Enable the layers you want (e.g. water, major roads, minor roads), open the design in 3DPlotter, then use Export by Layer. Each layer downloads as a separate G-code file — change pens between files for multi-color maps.
Which 3D printers work with map plotting?+
Any 3D printer configured as a pen plotter in 3DPlotter. Presets are available for all Bambu Lab models, Prusa, Creality, Ender, and custom bed sizes via Custom Board.
Is Map to Pen Plot included in the Creator Bundle?+
Yes. Map to Pen Plot is included in the Creator Bundle alongside 3DPlotter pen plotting, String Art, Wax Seal, and the 3D Model to SVG Studio. Lifetime 3DPlotter owners who purchased before the bundle also have access.

Ready to Plot Your Favorite City?

Map to Pen Plot is included in the Creator Bundle — one payment, lifetime access, all future updates.

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