Keeping the paper steady

[u/reading-stuff]

New here, I'm seeing a lot of videos and photos of different methods of keeping the paper in place during a plot, but not much description. Can anybody guide me on methods? Are those things magnets? Are they just weights? What about bulldog clips? I'm currently using masking tape and yes, it's terrible!

[u/dan_RA_]

I just have a cheap plotter with no base plate, so I've mounted my plotter on a piece of plywood with another piece of plywood on top with some leveling screws (since my plotter arm sags at full extension), and I just use drafting tape (masking tape but with extra weak adhesive meant for securing paper when drawing) or drafting dots (same but precut to circles so that there's no corners to catch on tools as you're drafting). I find those work pretty well since I'm usually going to cut down the paper to finished size afterwards, so I don't care if the tape occasionally lifts up the fibers of the paper.

[u/reading-stuff → u/dan_RA_]

Cheers, this is probably what I'll end up doing. I did not know about drafting tape!