What is Layout?
The arrangement of motifs within a textile rapport. Determines density, rhythm, and orientation. Independent from the repeat type, which governs how the rapport tiles.
In detail
Layout describes the spatial arrangement of motifs inside a single rapport, while repeat type (block / half-drop / half-brick / mirror) describes how the rapport tiles across the fabric. Layout choices include: allover (motifs distributed evenly with no orientation, e.g., scattered stars); striped (motifs aligned in vertical or horizontal bands); border (motifs concentrated along one edge); ditsy (small dense scatter); foulard (sparse drop on solid ground); tossed (engineered random); engineered (placement-specific for a garment panel). Layout interacts with motif scale: a small ditsy layout uses 100+ small motifs per rapport; a statement border uses 3-5 large motifs concentrated on one side. Layout decisions cascade through the entire production pipeline: layout determines rapport size, rapport size constrains motif scale, motif scale limits editing flexibility, and edits at the layout stage cost minutes while edits at the strike-off stage cost days. Lock the layout decision early and build the rest of the design around it.
Example
A 30 cm rapport with allover layout: 12 small floral motifs evenly distributed across the tile, with no clear orientation. The same rapport in border layout would have 3 large florals concentrated along the top edge and clean ground below.