diff --git a/API.md b/API.md
index 2c2c7a7..d89ccfe 100644
--- a/API.md
+++ b/API.md
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 # Squib API
 
+The Squib DSL is based on a collection of methods provided to the `Squib::Deck` class. The general philosophy of Squib is to specify as little as possible (i.e. great defaults )
+
 # Squib::Deck and Squib::Card
 
 Squib essentially has two main classes: `Deck` and `Card`. `Deck` is the front-end, and `Card` is the back-end. The contract of `Deck` is to do the various manipulations of options and then delegate the operation to `Card` to do the low-level graphical operations. 
@@ -35,17 +37,32 @@ Many more examples can be found in `ranges.rb` in the [samples](https://github.c
 
 # Pixels and Other Units
 
-By default, Squib thinks in pixels. This decision was made so that we can have pixel-perfect layouts without automatically scaling everything, even though working in units is sometimes easier. To convert, we provide the `Deck#inch` method, as shown in 
+By default, Squib thinks in pixels. This decision was made so that we can have pixel-perfect layouts without automatically scaling everything, even though working in units is sometimes easier. To convert, we provide the `Deck#inch` method, as shown in `samples/units.rb` found [here](https://github.com/andymeneely/squib/tree/master/samples/units.rb)
 
-`samples/units.rb` found [here](https://github.com/andymeneely/squib/tree/master/samples/units.rb)
+{include:file:samples/units.rb}
 
 # Specifying Colors
 
-Squib uses the `rcairo` [color parser](https://github.com/rcairo/rcairo/blob/master/lib/cairo/color.rb) to accepts a variety of color specifications, along with over [300 pre-defined constants](https://github.com/rcairo/rcairo/blob/master/lib/cairo/colors.rb). Here are some examples from `samples/colors.rb` found [here](https://github.com/andymeneely/squib/tree/master/samples/colors.rb)
+Colors can be specified in a wide variety of ways, mostly in a hex-string. Take a look at the examples from `samples/colors.rb`, found [here](https://github.com/andymeneely/squib/tree/master/samples/colors.rb)
 
 {include:file:samples/colors.rb}
 
+Under the hood, Squib uses the `rcairo` [color parser](https://github.com/rcairo/rcairo/blob/master/lib/cairo/color.rb) to accepts a variety of color specifications, along with over [300 pre-defined constants](https://github.com/rcairo/rcairo/blob/master/lib/cairo/colors.rb). 
+
 # Specifying Files
 
-All files opened for reading (e.g. for `png` and `xlsx`) are opened relative to the current directory.
+All files opened for reading or writing (e.g. for `png` and `xlsx`) are opened relative to the current directory. Files opened for writing (e.g. for `save_png`) will be overwritten without warning. 
+
+# Custom Layouts
+
+Working with x-y coordinates can be tiresome, and ideally everything in a game prototype should be data-driven. To counter this, many Squib methods allow for a `layout` to be set. In essence, layouts are a way of setting default values for `x, y, width` and `height`. 
+
+To use a layout, set the `layout:` option on a `Deck.new` command to point to a YAML file. Any command that allows a `layout` option can be set with a Ruby symbol or String, and the command will then load the specified `x`, `y`, `width`, and `height`. The individual command can also override these options. 
+
+Note: YAML is very finnicky about having tabs in the file. Use two spaces for indentation instead.
+
+See the `use_layout` sample found [here](https://github.com/andymeneely/squib/tree/master/samples/)
+
+{include:file:samples/use_layout.rb}
+
 
diff --git a/lib/squib/api/image.rb b/lib/squib/api/image.rb
index 1b59d18..8171bdf 100644
--- a/lib/squib/api/image.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/api/image.rb
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ module Squib
     # @return [nil] Returns nil
     # @api public
     def png(opts = {})
-      opts = needs(opts, [:range, :files, :x, :y, :alpha])
+      opts = needs(opts, [:range, :files, :x, :y, :alpha, :layout])
       opts[:range].each do |i| 
         @cards[i].png(opts[:file][i], opts[:x], opts[:y], opts[:alpha]) 
       end
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ module Squib
     # @return [nil] Returns nil
     # @api public
     def svg(opts = {})
-      p = needs(opts,[:range, :files, :svgid, :x, :y, :width, :height])
+      p = needs(opts,[:range, :files, :svgid, :x, :y, :width, :height, :layout])
       p[:range].each do |i| 
         @cards[i].svg(p[:file][i], p[:id], p[:x], p[:y], p[:width], p[:height]) 
       end
diff --git a/lib/squib/api/shapes.rb b/lib/squib/api/shapes.rb
index 4045333..f9d3cfc 100644
--- a/lib/squib/api/shapes.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/api/shapes.rb
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ module Squib
     # @api public
     def rect(opts = {})
       opts = needs(opts, [:range, :x, :y, :width, :height, :radius, 
-                          :fill_color, :stroke_color, :stroke_width])
+                          :fill_color, :stroke_color, :stroke_width, :layout])
       opts[:range].each do |i|
         @cards[i].rect(opts[:x], opts[:y], opts[:width], opts[:height], 
           opts[:x_radius], opts[:y_radius], 
diff --git a/lib/squib/api/text.rb b/lib/squib/api/text.rb
index 816b1bf..96b5b84 100644
--- a/lib/squib/api/text.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/api/text.rb
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ module Squib
     # @api public
     def text(opts = {})
       opts = needs(opts, [:range, :str, :font, :x, :y, :width, :height, :text_color, :wrap,
-                          :align, :justify, :valign, :ellipsize, :hint])
+                          :align, :justify, :valign, :ellipsize, :hint, :layout])
       opts[:str] = [opts[:str]] * @cards.size unless opts[:str].respond_to? :each
       opts[:range].each do |i|
         @cards[i].text(opts[:str][i], opts[:font], opts[:x], opts[:y], opts[:color], opts)
diff --git a/lib/squib/constants.rb b/lib/squib/constants.rb
index 6094cbe..1d13d74 100644
--- a/lib/squib/constants.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/constants.rb
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ module Squib
    		:sheet => 0,
    		:x => 0,
    		:y => 0,
+      :x_radius => 0, 
+      :y_radius => 0,
       :align => :left,
       :valign => :top,
       :justify => false,
diff --git a/lib/squib/deck.rb b/lib/squib/deck.rb
index 49a6c29..9b7d826 100644
--- a/lib/squib/deck.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/deck.rb
@@ -45,13 +45,14 @@ module Squib
     # @param config: [String] the file used for global settings of this deck
     # @param block [Block] the main body of the script.
     # @api public
-    def initialize(width: 825, height: 1125, cards: 1, dpi: 300, config: 'config.yml', &block)
+    def initialize(width: 825, height: 1125, cards: 1, dpi: 300, config: 'config.yml', layout: nil, &block)
       @width=width; @height=height
       @dpi = dpi
       @font = Squib::SYSTEM_DEFAULTS[:default_font]
       @cards = []
       cards.times{ @cards << Squib::Card.new(self, width, height) }
       load_config(config)
+      load_layout(layout)
       if block_given?
         instance_eval(&block)
       end
@@ -81,6 +82,13 @@ module Squib
       end
     end
 
+    # Load the layout configuration file, if exists
+    # @api private
+    def load_layout(file)
+      return if file.nil?
+      @layout = YAML.load_file(file)
+    end
+
     ##################
     ### PUBLIC API ###
     ##################
diff --git a/lib/squib/graphics/shapes.rb b/lib/squib/graphics/shapes.rb
index 8fb1478..2ed9227 100644
--- a/lib/squib/graphics/shapes.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/graphics/shapes.rb
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ module Squib
     # :nodoc:
     # @api private 
     def rect(x, y, width, height, x_radius, y_radius, fill_color, stroke_color, stroke_width)
+      width=@width if width==:native; height=@height if height==:native
       cc = cairo_context
       cc.rounded_rectangle(x, y, width, height, x_radius, y_radius)
       cc.set_source_color(stroke_color)
diff --git a/lib/squib/input_helpers.rb b/lib/squib/input_helpers.rb
index 27d6d85..d4479c5 100644
--- a/lib/squib/input_helpers.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/input_helpers.rb
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ module Squib
 
     # @api private
     def needs(opts, params)
+      opts = layoutify(opts) if params.include? :layout
       opts = Squib::SYSTEM_DEFAULTS.merge(opts)
       opts = rangeify(opts) if params.include? :range      
       opts = fileify(opts) if params.include? :file
@@ -24,6 +25,21 @@ module Squib
     end
     module_function :needs
 
+    def layoutify(opts)
+      unless opts[:layout].nil?
+        entry = @layout[opts[:layout].to_s]
+        unless entry.nil?
+          %w(x y width height).each do |p|
+            opts[p.to_sym] ||= entry[p]
+          end
+        else 
+          logger.warn "Layout entry #{opts[:layout]} does not exist." 
+        end
+      end
+      opts
+    end
+    module_function :layoutify
+
     # @api private
     def formatify(opts)
       opts[:format] = [opts[:format]].flatten
diff --git a/samples/custom-layout.yml b/samples/custom-layout.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6914dbf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/samples/custom-layout.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+frame: 
+  x: 38
+  y: 38
+  width: 750
+  height: 1050
+title:
+  x: 125
+  y: 50
+  width: 625
+  height: 150
+subtitle:
+  x: 125
+  y: 150
+  width: 625
+  height: 150
+icon_left:
+  x: 200
+  y: 250
+  width: 125
+  height: 125
+icon_right:
+  x: 400
+  y: 250
+  width: 125
+  height: 125  
diff --git a/samples/use_layout.rb b/samples/use_layout.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..745d930
--- /dev/null
+++ b/samples/use_layout.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+require 'squib'
+
+Squib::Deck.new(layout: 'custom-layout.yml') do 
+  background color: :white
+
+  # Layouts are YAML files that specify x, y, width, and height coordinates
+  rect layout: :frame
+
+  # You can also override a given layout entry in the command
+  rect layout: :frame, width: 50, height: 50
+
+  # Any command with x-y-width-height options, we can use a custom layout
+  text str: 'The Title', layout: :title
+  png file: 'shiny-purse.png', layout: :icon_left
+  svg file: 'spanner.svg', layout: :icon_right
+
+  # Strings can also be used in layouts
+  text str: 'subtitle', layout: 'subtitle'
+
+  save_png prefix: 'layout_'
+end
\ No newline at end of file