Techniques and systems for managing visual layouts of ink strokes are described. In particular, an ink space coordinate system for a digital ink stroke is provided. A digital ink system can receive ink stroke data of an ink stroke. The system can define an ink space coordinate system along the ink stroke. Defining the ink space coordinate system can include assigning a reference line of the ink stroke and an origin point on the reference line, as well as creating ink space coordinates. Creating the ink space coordinates can include defining ink space x-coordinate values representing a distance along the reference line relative to the origin point and defining ink space y-coordinate values representing a distance along an axis perpendicular to the reference line of the ink stroke. Then the system can perform a warping to create curvature in the ink space coordinate system.