rasterlayouts

Rasterlayouts are a grid-based approach to organizing visual content on a fixed raster or grid. In this paradigm, every element—text blocks, images, controls—is placed on discrete cells of a shared grid and sized in multiples of the cell dimensions. The result is crisp alignment and predictable spacing across layouts and devices.

Elements can span one or more cells, while gutters define the space between cells. The grid can be static for fixed-width designs or responsive, recombining columns and rows at different breakpoints to preserve tile consistency while adjusting the overall composition.

Raster layouts are common in UI design for dashboards, control panels, tile-based interfaces, and pixel-art style designs, where the emphasis is on modular blocks and consistent rhythm rather than flowing typography.

Advantages include precise alignment, repeatable spacing, and efficient rendering on raster displays or low-resolution devices. Limitations include rigidity, potential overuse that can produce a boxed or monotonous look, and challenges accommodating variable-length content or typography.

In modern web and app design, raster-like grids are implemented with technologies such as CSS grid or layout systems that support fixed-size tiles, enabling designers to achieve raster layouts while maintaining responsive behavior. Related concepts include grid systems, tile-based interfaces, and responsive design.