<a href="/zh/blog/useless-things">（點此閱讀中文版）</a>I’ve never understood why I’m so fascinated by <a href="/en/tags/plotter">pen plotters</a>, <a href="/en/tags/letterpress">letterpress printing</a>, and vintage typewriters.
I did notice what these three things have in common: they were all invented to improve human productivity, and then they were completely replaced by more efficient tools.
I consider myself a practical and rational person. I can’t understand why I’m so drawn to these outdated tools—especially when they cost more combined than buying a computer and printer.
A few days ago, I read this quote from <a href="https://sive.rs/">Derek Sivers</a> in <a href="https://wiwi.blog/blog/derek-sivers-quotes#%E6%B2%92%E7%94%A8%E7%9A%84%E8%97%9D%E8%A1%93">Wiwi’s post</a>:
<blockquote>
“Art is useless by definition. If it was useful, it would be a tool.”
</blockquote>
This suddenly made me realize: I’ve been trying to make these useless tools useful.
But here’s the funny thing—I’m using them for artistic creation, so the results are still useless.
Or maybe, I’m empathizing with them.
They were replaced by computers, just like us engineers are being replaced by AI.
So can we—this group who are destined to become obsolete—work together to create something beautiful?
I’m still searching for answers.

Useless things

<a href="/zh/blog/now-202511">（點此閱讀中文版）</a><h2>Recent Status</h2>
<ul>
<li>I work at a software company during the day. I’m grateful to have a full-time job that supports my family and hobbies.</li>
<li>I have two kids. I try to avoid mentioning them online to protect their privacy, <a href="md/blog/kids-drawing.en.md">though sometimes I can’t help myself</a>.</li>
<li>I’ve been putting off our family yearbook for years. I recently started planning again and hope to finally finish the 2022 album.</li>
<li>I finally decided to <a href="md/blog/start-a-personal-website-again/index.en.md">set up this personal website and blog again</a> in early November.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Recent Interests</h2>
<ul>
<li>I’m trying out different tools and workflows to find what works for me. My goal is to build sustainable habits for both creating and documenting my work.</li>
<li>Pen plotter:
<ul>
<li>I bought a <a href="md/blog/uuna-tek-idraw-2/index.en.md">UUNA TEK iDraw 2.0 A4</a> in September, and I’m super excited about it. You can expect more <a href="/en/tags/plotter">pen plotter work</a> from me in the near future.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Letterpress printing:
<ul>
<li>I’ve always wanted to try <a href="/en/tags/letterpress">letterpress printing</a>. I bought a preloved <a href="md/blog/iletterpress-lao-shi-fu-de-pai-ban-zhuo/index.zh.md">《老師傅的排版桌》</a> in November have <a href="md/blog/iletterpress-desk-calendar/index.zh.md">printed a calendar</a> with it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Favorite Tools Now</h2>
<ul>
<li>Hardware:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://old.pragmatic.com.tw/shop/wu-shi-36ai-zhou-89">Pragmatic Choc36 Split Keyboard</a></li>
<li>Logitech Ergo M575 Wireless Trackball Mouse</li>
<li>MacBook Pro M1 14&quot;</li>
<li>Kobo Libra H2O</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Software:
<ul>
<li>Creating:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://obsidian.md/">Obsidian</a></li>
<li><a href="https://cursor.com/">Cursor</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.affinity.studio/">Affinity</a></li>
<li><a href="https://inkscape.org/">Inkscape</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Reading:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://feedly.com/">Feedly</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Website Setup:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://nextjs.org/">Next.js</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.cloudflare.com/">Cloudflare</a></li>
<li><a href="https://fonts.google.com/">Google Fonts</a>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://github.com/googlefonts/ms-madi">Ms Madi</a></li>
<li><a href="https://chiron-fonts.github.io/">Chiron Fonts</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Ideas That May or May Not Happen</h2>
<ul>
<li>Exchange handmade postcards with someone.
<ul>
<li>I know about <a href="https://www.postcrossing.com/">Postcrossing</a>, but not everyone on that platform is open to handmade postcards. 😅</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Create something with my mother’s vintage typewriter, the Olivetti Dora.
<ul>
<li>Sadly, I don’t have the space for it right now. I’m looking forward to the day I can bring it home and add it to my creative toolkit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Write monthly reports compiling and reviewing everything I’ve published and created each month.
<ul>
<li>With a full-time job and kids, I probably won’t tackle this side project anytime soon, but it’s something I’d like to do eventually.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
This post is inspired by Derek Sivers’ <a href="https://nownownow.com/about">Now Page</a>.
Thanks to <a href="https://alexhsu.com/en/first-post">Alex Hsu’s introduction</a> for bringing this to my attention.
</blockquote>

What I’m Up To Now

<a href="/zh/blog/uuna-tek-idraw-2">（點此閱讀中文版）</a>I finally bought my first pen plotter in September.
I went with UUNA TEK’s <a href="https://uunatek.com/products/uuna-tek-pen-plotter-2-0-a4-size-handwriting-machine-xy-plotter-laser-engraver">iDraw 2.0</a>, which is listed as a legacy model on their website. I originally wanted the newer 3.0 series or the H series, but both of those start at A3 size. I really don’t have space for that at my place.
Even the A4 size was a struggle—I had to rearrange my desk just to make room for it.
<img src="https://ocesnqabnj.rayshineart.com/image/blog/uuna-tek-idraw-2/01.jpg?width=800&quality=80" alt="" title="Most of the machine was already assembled; I just connected the cables">
<h2>Three Years of Hesitation</h2>
I’ve wanted to get a pen plotter for three years, but I could never convince myself.
My rational side kept telling me it’s an awkward device. It’s slower and less precise than a printer, and the lines it draws can look too mechanical compared to hand-drawn work.
But for some reason I couldn’t explain, I kept thinking about buying one.
I tried talking myself out of it, telling myself it was a waste of money...
Finally, I asked myself: Why does it have to be useful?
Can’t I just treat it like a toy? When my husband and kids bought a PS5 and Switch 2, they didn’t stop to consider whether those game consoles were useful, did they?
Can’t I just buy it because it’s fun?
<h2>The Impulse Purchase</h2>
When I saw UUNA TEK’s Halloween discount in September, I finally took the plunge. I ordered on 9/16 and received it on 9/24.
Here are the photos I took on unboxing day.
<img src="https://ocesnqabnj.rayshineart.com/image/blog/uuna-tek-idraw-2/02.jpg?width=800&quality=80" alt="" title="Unboxing">
<img src="https://ocesnqabnj.rayshineart.com/image/blog/uuna-tek-idraw-2/03.jpg?width=800&quality=80" alt="" title="Thank you letter from UUNA TEK ♥ Probably written with one of their writing machines">
<img src="https://ocesnqabnj.rayshineart.com/image/blog/uuna-tek-idraw-2/04.jpg?width=800&quality=80" alt="" title="The envelope is beautiful">
<img src="https://ocesnqabnj.rayshineart.com/image/blog/uuna-tek-idraw-2/05.jpg?width=800&quality=80" alt="" title="The thank you letter is a folded card">
<img src="https://ocesnqabnj.rayshineart.com/image/blog/uuna-tek-idraw-2/06.jpg?width=800&quality=80" alt="" title="20% off on the next order. Looking forward to the day I get a bigger room so I can order an A3 size model 🤣">
I later heard from my friend E that UUNA TEK actually has frequent sales, and I did see them run a Thanksgiving sale right after Halloween. Oh well—at least I got to enjoy it earlier!
I used the 20% discount code from David Mrugala’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zzwu9d3gGfA">YouTube video</a> when I placed my order. Even though the video was published three years ago, the code was still valid when I used it. If you’re thinking about purchasing one, you can try the code in the video description. The video also has a detailed review that might help you decide.
<h2>Looking for Fellow Enthusiasts</h2>
Pen plotters seem relatively niche in Taiwan right now. If you know of any communities I could join, I’d really appreciate it if you could let me know. 🫶

Unboxing My First Pen Plotter: UUNA TEK iDraw 2.0 A4

<a href="/zh/blog/curvey-varnished-n-framed">（點此閱讀中文版）</a><img src="https://ocesnqabnj.rayshineart.com/image/blog/curvey-varnished-n-framed/01.jpg?width=800&quality=80" alt="Red Heart Framed">
Varnish vs. Glass? I chose varnish.
I love seeing the texture and strokes up close, and glass always gets in the way of that detail.
<img src="https://ocesnqabnj.rayshineart.com/image/blog/curvey-varnished-n-framed/02.jpg?width=800&quality=80" alt="A close up look of the textures" title="A close up look of the textures">

Varnish vs. Glass?

<a href="/zh/blog/curvey-a-red-heart">（點此閱讀中文版）</a><img src="https://ocesnqabnj.rayshineart.com/image/blog/curvey-a-red-heart/01.jpg?width=800&quality=80" alt="Drawing the red heart" title="Layering red marker on the still-wet black marker">
Happy accident on my plotter base plate ❤️
I thought layering red marker on the still-wet black marker ruined the piece. Instead, it gave me a desaturated dark red I was looking for.
Sometimes the “mistakes” are the best part. 😉
<img src="https://ocesnqabnj.rayshineart.com/image/blog/curvey-a-red-heart/02.jpg?width=800&quality=80" alt="Final drawing with all the pens used" title="Final drawing with all the pens used">
<ul>
<li>Lines created with an algorithm I wrote using <a href="http://paperjs.org/">Paper.js</a>.</li>
<li>Drawn with UUNA TEK iDraw Pen Plotter 2.0:
<ul>
<li>Touchmark Acrylic Marker (10 Black, 36 Red)</li>
<li>uni-ball Signo broad UM-153 (silver, gold)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Paper: UMAE Watercolour Paper, 100% Cotton, Cold Press, 300gsm</li>
</ul>

(WIP) A Red Heart

<a href="/zh/blog/curvey-orange-n-purple">（點此閱讀中文版）</a>Experimenting my new pen plotter with different pens. I wish the orange &amp; purple were more saturated. Guess I've got some excuses to buy more markers. 😆
<img src="https://ocesnqabnj.rayshineart.com/image/blog/curvey-orange-n-purple/01.jpg?width=800&quality=80" alt="">
Lines created with an algorithm I wrote using <a href="http://paperjs.org/">Paper.js</a>.
<ul>
<li>Hand painted:
<ul>
<li>Holbein Gouache G658 (black)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Drawn with UUNA TEK iDraw Pen Plotter 2.0:
<ul>
<li>Touchmark Acrylic Marker (23 Orange, 51 Purple)</li>
<li>uni-ball Signo broad UM-153 (silver, gold)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Paper: UMAE Watercolour Paper, 100% Cotton, Cold Press, 300gsm</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://ocesnqabnj.rayshineart.com/image/blog/curvey-orange-n-purple/02.jpg?width=800&quality=80" alt="A close up look of the strokes." title="A close up look. I love the texture created by different strokes.">

(WIP) Orange & Purple

<a href="/zh/blog/curvey-a-pink-heart">（點此閱讀中文版）</a>Experimenting my new pen plotter with different pens.
<img src="https://ocesnqabnj.rayshineart.com/image/blog/curvey-a-pink-heart/01.jpg?width=800&quality=80" alt="">
<ul>
<li>Lines created with an algorithm I wrote using <a href="http://paperjs.org/">Paper.js</a>.</li>
<li>Hand painted:
<ul>
<li>Holbein Gouache G658 (black)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Drawn with UUNA TEK iDraw Pen Plotter 2.0:
<ul>
<li>Nora Acrylic Marker (pink)</li>
<li>Copic acrea (silver)</li>
<li>uni-ball Signo broad UM-153 (gold)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Paper: UMAE Watercolour Paper, 100% Cotton, Cold Press, 300gsm</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://ocesnqabnj.rayshineart.com/image/blog/curvey-a-pink-heart/02.jpg?width=800&quality=80" alt="A close up look of the strokes." title="A close up look. I love the texture created by different strokes.">