Abstract: A method and apparatus for plotting graphics or images such as arrows and grids, for example, on a display device such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) screen. The method includes generating a plotting string for the image to be displayed, with the plotting string including a repeat factor and a control factor for each segment of the image to be displayed, with the repeat factor containing the number of times a plotting character is to be repeated to produce the length of an associated segment in the image, and with the control factor containing x and y offsets for the associated segment. The method also includes utilizing the associated control factor to establish direction along x and y coordinates on the screen of the CRT for a segment in the image, and utilizing the associated repeat factor to determine the number of times the plotting character is to be repeated on the screen along a line established by the associated control factor to thereby produce the length of the associated segment.