# VASSAL Reference Manual

Home > Module > Game Piece Image Definitions > Game Piece Layouts

## Game Piece Layouts

This component contains all the layouts used to define a Game Piece Image. Right-click and select "Add Game Piece Layout" to add a new layout.

A Game Piece Layout defines the general look and layout of the items used in drawing an image. Specific color and text information is defined for individual counter images in an Image Definition.

An Image is built up by drawing in order:

1. A rectangle of the background color.
2. A border.
3. Each defined item in the order displayed in the Item panel.

Name: The name of the Image Layout.
Counter Width: The width of all counters created using this layout.
Counter Height: The height of all counters created using this layout.
Border Style: The border style for all counters created using this layout. Border styles currently available are:

- None - No Border
- Plain - Single pixel line of defined color.
- Fancy - Two pixel shaded line of defined color. Mild 3D effect.
- 3D - A 3D-style shaded border. Two pixels wide, colour automatically determined from background color.

Reduce Images to 256 Colors: This option results in smaller module files and will not degrade image quality unless the counters use high-resolution photographic images

### Visualizer

The next section contains a visualizer, showing you in actual size what your finished counter will look like. No colors or text have been defined yet, so sample text values and images placeholders are displayed. |

### Item List

The Items panel shows the list of defined items for this Layout. Layout items are drawn onto the counter image in the order specified. Click on an item in the panel to display and edit its attributes in the lower display panel.

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### Buttons

Use the buttons to add, remove or move Items in the list.

- Symbol - Add a NATO Unit Symbol.
- Text - Add a Text label.
- Image - Add an image from the module images directory.
- Shape - Draw and color fill a rectangle, rounded rectangle or oval.
- Remove - Remove the selected Item.
- Up - Move the selected Item up the list (i.e. draw earlier).
- Down - Move the selected Item down the list (i.e. draw later).

### Symbol Item

A Symbol Item is a generic symbol to be drawn by the program. The particular symbol is chosen in the Game Piece Image.

Name: The name of the Item. Items MUST be uniquely named within an Image Layout.
Location: Select the location of the item on the counter.
Symbol Set: Select the Symbol Set to use. Only Symbol set available currently is NATO Unit Symbols.
Width: The width of the body of the symbol in pixels.
Height: The height of the body of the symbol (not including the Size specifier) in pixels.
Line Width: The width of the line (in pixels)used to draw the symbol. Fractional line widths can be used. The lines are drawn with antialiasing turned on to produce smooth looking lines of any width. When using a small symbol size, a line width of 1.0 will usually give the best results.

### Label Items

A Text Item is a text label drawn in a particular font at a particular location. The value of the text can be specified in the individual images or in the layout, in which case all images using this layout share the same value.

Name: The name of the Item. Items MUST be uniquely named within an Image Layout.
Location: Select the location of the item on the counter. The location also determines the text justification, i.e. selecting Top Left ensures that the upper left corner of the text is in the upper left corner of the image. Once the justification is set by the Location, you can still use the X/Y offset in the advanced options to place the text in a different location.
Font Style: Select the name of the Font Style to be used for this Text Item.
Text is: Select whether the text is specified in the layout or in the images.

### Text Box Items

A Text Box Item is multi-line area of text drawn in a particular font at a particular location. The value of the text can be specified in the individual images or in the layout, in which case all images using this layout share the same value.

Name: The name of the Item. Items MUST be uniquely named within an Image Layout.
Location: Select the location of the item on the counter. The location also determines the text justification, i.e. selecting Top Left ensures that the upper left corner of the text is in the upper left corner of the image. Once the justification is set by the Location, you can still use the X/Y offset in the advanced options to place the text in a different location.
Use HTML If selected, then the contents will be interpreted as HTML.
Font Style: Select the name of the Font Style to be used for this Text Item.
Text is: Select whether the text is specified in the layout or in the images.

### Image Item

An Image item is an imported image.

Name: The name of the Item. Items MUST be uniquely named within an Image Layout.
Location: Select the location of the item on the counter.
Image is: Specify whether the image is specified in this layout or in the images that use this layout. Use the File Open Dialog box to locate a copy of the image you wish to use on your PC. When you save the module, VASSAL will attempt to copy this image into the images folder within the module zip file. You can also manually copy images into your images folder.

### Shape Item

A Shape Item is a simple geometric shape. Name: The name of the Item. Items MUST be uniquely named within an Image Layout. Location: Select the location of the item on the counter. Width: Select the width of the shape. Height: Select the height of the shape. Shape: Select the type of shape. Bevel: For Rounded Rectangle shapes, larger bevel values mean rounder corners. |

## Sub-Components

### Game Piece Image

An image using this layout.