Random Scrapbook Page Layout Generator

Description

Assign supplied photo, caption and embellishment blocks to dimensioned compatible slots with explicit pairwise overlap permission and bounded randomized search.

Procedural artwork expresses a visual idea through coordinates, repeated motifs, colors, or explicit placement constraints. A coordinate plan can be checked and reproduced before rendering, while physical material behavior and fabrication require separate information.

Assign supplied photo, caption and embellishment blocks to dimensioned compatible slots with explicit pairwise overlap permission and bounded randomized search.

When to use this tool

Use this generator to create reproducible scrapbook page layout cases from the supplied model or bank. Inspect the returned evidence before using cases in a test or exercise.

How to use the tool and how it works

Supply width, height, blocks, slots in the field shapes below. Set seed when you need an explicit replay.
Run the tool and correct any input error. For generated controls, distinguish a successful fixture containing an invalid case from failure to generate the fixture.
Read placements, pageArea, summedBlockArea. Use the conventions below and keep answer-bearing fields separate when presenting an exercise.

Assign blocks to unused role-matching slots large enough for their dimensions, using bounded randomized backtracking. Place at slot origins and permit geometric overlap only when both affected blocks allow it; return page and summed block areas.^[1]

Input field	Meaning and units	Accepted input
width	Width	Required. Finite number; strictly above 0.
height	Height	Required. Finite number; strictly above 0.
blocks	Blocks	Required. Array of Object; no unknown keys.; minimum items 1; maximum items 12.
blocks[].id	Literal identifier used to match records, independently of their display labels.	Required. Text; minimum UTF-16 length 1; maximum UTF-16 length 80.
blocks[].role	Role	Required. Text; one of "photo", "caption", "embellishment".
blocks[].width	Width	Required. Finite number; strictly above 0.
blocks[].height	Height	Required. Finite number; strictly above 0.
blocks[].allowOverlap	Allow Overlap	Required. Boolean.
slots	Slots	Required. Array of Object; no unknown keys.; minimum items 1; maximum items 12.
slots[].id	Literal identifier used to match records, independently of their display labels.	Required. Text; minimum UTF-16 length 1; maximum UTF-16 length 80.
slots[].role	Role	Required. Text; one of "photo", "caption", "embellishment".
slots[].x	X	Required. Finite number.
slots[].y	Y	Required. Finite number.
slots[].width	Width	Required. Finite number; strictly above 0.
slots[].height	Height	Required. Finite number; strictly above 0.
seed	Optional numeric seed; takes precedence over context randomness. Without either, use the fixed tool.io default seed.	Optional. Safe integer.

Output field	Interpretation	Returned shape
placements	Placements	Required. Array of Object; no unknown keys.; minimum items 1; maximum items 12.
placements[].id	Literal identifier used to match records, independently of their display labels.	Required. Text; minimum UTF-16 length 1; maximum UTF-16 length 80.
placements[].slotId	Slot Id	Required. Text; minimum UTF-16 length 1; maximum UTF-16 length 80.
placements[].role	Role	Required. Text; one of "photo", "caption", "embellishment".
placements[].x	X	Required. Finite number.
placements[].y	Y	Required. Finite number.
placements[].width	Width	Required. Finite number; strictly above 0.
placements[].height	Height	Required. Finite number; strictly above 0.
placements[].allowOverlap	Allow Overlap	Required. Boolean.
placements[].area	Area	Required. Finite number; strictly above 0.
pageArea	Page Area	Required. Finite number; strictly above 0.
summedBlockArea	Summed Block Area	Required. Finite number; strictly above 0.
randomness	Replay metadata: source is seed or context; seed is the normalized 32-bit seed or null for a context source.	Required. Object; no unknown keys.
randomness.seed	Optional numeric replay seed; normalization and precedence are explained below.	Required. Safe integer. or Null.
randomness.source	Source	Required. Text; one of "context", "seed".

An explicit safe-integer seed takes precedence over injected context randomness and is normalized to an unsigned 32-bit integer. With no seed and no context source, replay uses the fixed tool.io default seed. A context source must return finite values from zero inclusive to one exclusive; its advancing state must be retained separately. randomness records the source and normalized seed, or null for context. These generators are not cryptographic random sources.

json

{
  "input": {
    "width": 4,
    "height": 4,
    "blocks": [
      {
        "id": "photo",
        "role": "photo",
        "width": 2,
        "height": 2,
        "allowOverlap": false
      },
      {
        "id": "caption",
        "role": "caption",
        "width": 2,
        "height": 1,
        "allowOverlap": false
      }
    ],
    "slots": [
      {
        "id": "top",
        "role": "photo",
        "x": 0,
        "y": 0,
        "width": 2,
        "height": 2
      },
      {
        "id": "below",
        "role": "caption",
        "x": 0,
        "y": 2,
        "width": 2,
        "height": 1
      }
    ],
    "seed": 42
  },
  "output": {
    "placements": [
      {
        "id": "photo",
        "role": "photo",
        "width": 2,
        "height": 2,
        "allowOverlap": false,
        "x": 0,
        "y": 0,
        "slotId": "top",
        "area": 4
      },
      {
        "id": "caption",
        "role": "caption",
        "width": 2,
        "height": 1,
        "allowOverlap": false,
        "x": 0,
        "y": 2,
        "slotId": "below",
        "area": 2
      }
    ],
    "pageArea": 16,
    "summedBlockArea": 6,
    "randomness": {
      "seed": 42,
      "source": "seed"
    }
  }
}

Limitations and assumptions

Summed block area can exceed occupied union area when overlap is permitted. Slots must lie inside the page. The first feasible layout is not an aesthetic or packing optimum.
A replay requires the same complete input and implementation. Randomized construction does not guarantee uniform coverage of every feasible output; finite samples can repeat unless a distinct-selection rule is explicitly stated.
The field tables state structural bounds; cross-field constraints and bounded search or output budgets also apply. Unknown keys are rejected where the object contract disallows them. Input errors are distinct from null fields and deliberate invalid controls in a successful output.

Alternative or Complementary methods

For a supplied example, inspect the returned construction or delegated check directly. To evaluate a consumer, also test cases chosen for its own boundaries; a generated finite corpus does not establish exhaustive coverage.

References

Tool behavior and example: Random Scrapbook Page Layout Generator — tool.io

Similar or alternative tools

Random Greeting Card Fold Layout Generator
Draw a supplied equal-panel card template and return dimensioned roles and alternating fold labels in right/down sheet coordinates; print imposition is external.
Random Lacing Card Hole Layout Generator
Number equally spaced perimeter holes on a supplied simple orthogonal outline, sample a phase and verify every Euclidean pair distance; material safety and physical usability remain caller-reviewed.