Various resources like layout maps, etc. for use in Blender (or other image editors where layout grids might be useful)

A Python script to generate pixel-perfect ruler / UV test grids for Blender, printing, or general reference. It supports PNG (raster), SVG, and PDF (vector) output with customizable colors, labels, and alignment.

Here are three common output styles:

• Left: Colored PNG (default)
• Middle: B/W print-friendly PDF
• Right: Semi-transparent overlay (50% opacity)

1. Install dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

2. Run the script:

   python make_grid.py

   This generates:

   • grid_3600_major10_minor12_color_upperleft_scale0.2_opacity1-000.png

   A 3600×3600 colored PNG with 10×10 major squares, each subdivided 12×12, labels in the upper-left.

• Customizable grid geometry

  • Major squares (--major, default 10)
  • Minor subdivisions (--minor, default 12)
  • Image size in pixels (--size, default 3600)

• Colors

  • Colored major squares (--color, default)
  • White/black print-friendly mode (--no-color)

• Labels

  • Spreadsheet-style labels (A1..Z99, AA1..)
  • Configurable alignment (--label-alignment UpperLeft|MiddleCenter|...)
  • Label scale (--label-scale 0.20 means 20% of major square height)
  • Automatic black/white text for legibility over colored backgrounds

• Opacity

  • Control transparency of both fills and labels with --opacity 0.0–1.0

• Output

  • Raster: PNG (snaps to nearest multiple of major * minor for perfect pixel alignment)
  • Vector: SVG, PDF (infinite scalability, no snapping required)
  • Multiple formats at once: --format png svg pdf
  • Auto-descriptive filenames (unless --out specified)
  • Windows-safe auto-suffixing: if file exists, new ones become ...-000.png, ...-001.png, etc.

Requires Python 3.9+ and matplotlib.

pip install -r requirements.txt

Minimal requirements.txt:

matplotlib>=3.7

python make_grid.py

Generates a 3600×3600 PNG with 10×10 major squares, 12×12 subdivisions each, colored background, labels in upper-left.

• Custom size & formats:

  python make_grid.py --size 7200 --format png svg
  

• Print-friendly B/W vector PDF:

  python make_grid.py --no-color --format pdf
  

• Labels centered & smaller:

  python make_grid.py --label-alignment MiddleCenter --label-scale 0.18
  

• Semi-transparent overlay PNG:

  python make_grid.py --opacity 0.5
  

• Explicit output base name:

  python make_grid.py -o my_custom_grid --format png svg
  

  Produces files like: my_custom_grid-000.png, my_custom_grid-000.svg

• Generate all three formats at once:

  python make_grid.py --size 6000 --format png svg pdf
  

• Use a custom output base name:

  python make_grid.py --size 4800 -o ruler_grid
  

  Produces: ruler_grid-000.png, ruler_grid-000.pdf, etc.

• Test very fine subdivisions (e.g., 20×20 majors, 8×8 minors):

  python make_grid.py --major 20 --minor 8 --size 8000
  

• Create transparent overlay grids for Blender background images:

  python make_grid.py --size 7200 --opacity 0.5 --format png
  

• PNG snapping: If --size isn’t divisible by (major × minor), PNGs are automatically snapped down to the nearest multiple for exact line alignment. SVG/PDF are unaffected but match the snapped size for consistency.
• Leading zeros: Output numbering always uses -000, -001, etc., to keep filenames neat.
• Performance: Very large grids (≥ 7200 px) may take several seconds to generate.

This project is licensed under the BSD 2-Clause License.
See the LICENSE file for details.