Apparatus and method for generating a variable line width

An apparatus for drawing with an ink pen having a copperplate style nib, comprising:

• a. a plotter having:
• i. a table for receiving medium upon which said pen will draw;
• ii. a pen slider translatable with respect to said table parallel a first axis (nominally designated the "X" axis);
• and
• iii. a pen holder for receiving said pen, mounted on said slider and translatable with respect to said slider parallel a second axis (nominally designated the "Y" axis), orthogonal to said first axis, said pen holder including means for maintaining said pen at a known angular orientation with respect to a third axis (nominally designated the "Z" axis) perpendicular said X and Y axes;
• and
• b. means for selectively varying the pressure between said pen nib and said medium upon which said line is being drawn, thereby controlling said pen to apply ink of selectable and variable widths along a line independent of the shape of the line or its orientation with respect to the X and Y axes.

An apparatus for drawing with an ink pen having a radially asymmetric nib, comprising:

• a. a plotter having:
• i. a table for receiving medium upon which said pen will draw;
• ii. a pen slider translatable with respect to said table parallel a first axis (nominally designated the "X" axis);
• iii. a pen holder for receiving said pen, mounted on said slider and translatable with respect to said slider parallel a second axis (nominally designated the "Y" axis), orthogonal to said first axis, said pen holder including means for maintaining said pen at a known angular orientation with respect to a third axis (nominally designated the "Z" axis) perpendicular said X and Y axis;
• and
• b. means for applying ink along a first line;
• and
• c. means for applying ink along at least one additional line closely adjacent a portion of said first line such that the ink along both lines is contiguous along a portion of said at least one additional line, thereby controlling said pen to apply ink of selectable and variable widths along a line independent of the shape of the line or its orientation with respect to the X and Y axes.

A method for drawing with an ink pen having a radially asymmetric nib, comprising:

• a. provides a plotter having:
• i. a table for receiving medium upon which said pen will draw;
• ii. a pen slider translatable with respect to said table parallel a first axis (nominally designated the "X" axis);
• and
• iii. a pen holder for receiving said pen, mounted on said slider and translatable with respect to said slider parallel a second axis (nominally designated the "Y" axis), orthogonal to said first axis, said pen holder including means for maintaining said pen at a known angular orientation with respect to a third axis (nominally designated the "Z" axis) perpendicular said X and Y axes;
• and
• iv. means for controlling the motion of the slider and pen carrier;
• b. applying ink along a first line;
• and
• c. applying ink along at least one additional line closely adjacent a portion of said first line such that the ink along both lines is contiguous along a portion of said at least one additional line, thereby controlling said pen to apply ink of selectable and variable widths along a line independent of the shape of the line or its orientation with respect to the X and Y axes.