Dot Grid
What this grid is
A Dot Grid is a regular arrangement of repeated dot shapes. It is a simple way to add rhythm, texture, and alignment cues. This generator supports multiple shapes: Square, Circle, Hex, Triangle, and Diamond. The output is tightly fit to the dots (no padding).
Key parameters
- Shape — The dot geometry. Different shapes interpret size differently.
- Columns / Rows (dots) — Dot count in each direction. Higher counts produce denser patterns.
- Dot Size / Radius (px) — Dot size. Square = side length; Circle = radius; Hex = radius; Triangle = side length; Diamond = width (horizontal diagonal).
- Spacing X / Spacing Y (px) — The empty gap between neighboring dots. Smaller spacing packs dots tighter.
- Triangle Layout — For Triangle shape. Up/Down controls orientation. Tiled layouts connect triangles into a continuous mesh and ignore spacing.
- Diamond Layout — For Diamond shape. Aligned vs Staggered shifts alternate columns for a woven/argyle feel.
- Diamond Tilt (°) — For Diamond shape. Controls how tall the diamond is. 45° gives the classic “rotated square” diamond.
- Fill (Color + Opacity) — The main dot appearance.
- Border (Width / Color / Opacity) — Optional stroke around dots. Border is drawn inward to avoid clipping at edges.
Unique highlights
- One generator covers several common dot families.
- Independent X/Y spacing for rectangular rhythm.
- Triangle tiled layouts for mesh-like patterns.
- Diamond tilt + stagger for controlled argyle-style textures.
- Safety limits for large exports (including a total dots cap).
Typical use cases
- Subtle background texture under maps, charts, and dashboards.
- “Graph paper” alternatives for UI mockups and presentation slides.
- Halftone-style patterns (with circles) and pixel textures (with squares).
- Decorative fills for posters, packaging, and branding.
- Print templates for handwriting, note-taking, and worksheets.
Tips
- For background use, reduce opacity before changing color.
- If dots feel too heavy, reduce size slightly and increase spacing.
- For crisp-looking dots at small sizes, prefer square or diamond with a thin border.
- Triangles: use Tiled layouts when you want a connected pattern. Use Up/Down when you want independent dots.
- If you need a repeating tile, remember the output is tightly fit. A seamless tile usually needs an edge margin.
FAQ
Is this a “dot grid” or a “pattern generator”?
Both. It can be used as a subtle grid, or as a visible pattern layer.
What is “Spacing X/Y”?
It is the empty gap between neighboring dots (edge-to-edge), not the center distance.
Why does size mean different things?
Each shape uses a natural size parameter (radius for circles, side length for squares/triangles, width for diamonds).
How do I make a classic dot-paper look?
Use Circle, small size, moderate spacing, and low opacity.
How do I create an argyle feel?
Use Diamond, Tilt near 45°, and try Staggered layout.
Why does the preview differ from export?
Preview is scaled to fit your screen. Export preserves exact geometry and output size.
I hit a limit error. What should I change first?
Reduce Columns/Rows. If you need coverage area, increase size/spacing instead of counts.