Introduction to Card Layout Script#
Card Layout Script (CLS) is a language for designing cards. Cards are described as layouts that are rendered by the CLR Renderer.
Use CLS to make cards and things for print-n-play games, prototyping board games, video games, or just to jazz up your favorite TTRPG.
CLS was made because the two main card programs I used both felt lacking. The venerable nanDECK can do most anything, but the opaque syntax and the clinical documentation make it a hard to learn. The WYSIWYG CardMaker is easy to use, but it’s limitations felt stifling at times. So I made a language and renderer that did what I wanted it to, and added some other handy features along the way.
Some features of note:
Powerful placement system allowing you to locate an item from any edge, easily center things, and position things relative to another, all of which is rotation aware
Units for numbers are built into the syntax, as well as fractions, allowing you to use things like
1/3in
and the renderer knows what you meanRich text in the form of HTML, so you can bold, italicize, and even include images
Image and SVG support, the latter allowing you to specify specific items instead of the whole document
A system of macros that allow you to change any property on any part of a card on a per card basis, with functions for math, string manipulation, and conditions among others
Cards can be exported to PDF for home printing, textures for Table Top Simulator, or individual images
Everything is thoroughly documented, and if something isn’t clear enough just ask and I’ll gladly clarify
How it works#
Write a layout file like this one
layout {
size: 2.5in, 3.5in
}
label {
type: text
position: 1in, 1in
size: 1in, 1in
angle: 180
font: 55pt, Segoe Script
align: right, bottom
text: use <u>html</u>
}
box {
type: rect
position: ^1in, ^1in
line: 1/8in, #696969
fill-color: transparent
}
in your favorite editor (there’s a plugin for VS Code) and give it to the CLS Renderer to see how it looks.
From there you can export your cards to individual images, a texture image for Tabletop Simulator, or a PDF for print and play.
Download the CLR Renderer from the home page at codlark.itch.io/CLS then take a look at the tutorial.