What kind of drawings can you make with minimator?

Updated

Minimator is built for geometric, grid-based line art. Every drawing is made from lines on a grid canvas, and those lines are limited to three types: horizontal lines, vertical lines, and quarter circles. If your idea can be expressed with straight orthogonal segments and rounded corners, minimator can draw it. If you need freehand curves, diagonal lines, fills, or gradients, it can't.

The drawing rules that define the output

The constraint is the whole point of the tool. Understanding it tells you immediately whether minimator fits your project.

Element Supported Not supported
Horizontal lines Yes —
Vertical lines Yes —
Quarter circles Yes —
Diagonal lines — No
Freehand curves — No
Arbitrary angles — No

Because every stroke snaps to the grid and only bends in quarter-circle arcs, the result is always aligned and consistent. You don't fight alignment; the canvas enforces it.

What this style is good for

The limitation produces a recognizable minimalist, geometric look. That makes minimator a natural fit for:

  • Pixel-style and blocky art — orthogonal lines map directly onto a grid aesthetic.
  • Icons and simple symbols — arrows, boxes, frames, and rounded containers are all expressible with straight lines plus quarter circles.
  • Diagrams and schematics — flowcharts, floor-plan-style sketches, and connection diagrams where right angles dominate.
  • Rounded rectangles and UI-style shapes — a rectangle with quarter-circle corners is a core building block here.
  • Decorative patterns — repeating grids of lines and arcs for backgrounds or borders.

What it isn't suited for

If your drawing depends on any of the following, minimator will get in the way rather than help:

  • Organic or hand-drawn curves
  • Diagonal lines and arbitrary angles
  • Shading, fills, or color gradients (the tool is described as a minimalist line editor)
  • Detailed illustration with fine, non-grid-aligned detail

How to decide

Ask one question: can I describe my drawing as a set of horizontal segments, vertical segments, and rounded corners? If yes, minimator's grid canvas will speed you up and keep everything tidy. If no, you'll spend more time working around the constraints than drawing.

A quick test: sketch your idea on squared paper using only horizontal lines, vertical lines, and quarter-circle corners. If the sketch still reads clearly, minimator is a good match. If it falls apart, choose a tool that allows freeform curves.