How can I position and resize rectangles around a center rectangle in a Three.js grid?

I understand you're looking for an algorithm to create a layout with a central rectangle surrounded by other rectangles of varying sizes to achieve a more randomized appearance in Three.js. While the specific mathematical classes mentioned in the context don't directly address your layout algorithm needs, I can provide some guidance on how to approach this problem.

Approach for Creating a Randomized Rectangle Layout

1. Define your grid system:

   • Start with a central rectangle with fixed dimensions
   • Divide the surrounding space into sections (quadrants or octants)

2. Generate surrounding rectangles:

   • For each section around the central rectangle, create rectangles with:
     • Random width (within constraints)
     • Random height (within constraints)
     • Position calculated relative to the central rectangle

3. Implement using Three.js geometry:

   • Use PlaneGeometry for each rectangle
   • Apply different materials or shaders to each

Sample Pseudocode

JAVASCRIPTCopied
// Create central rectangle
const centralRect = new THREE.Mesh(
  new THREE.PlaneGeometry(centralWidth, centralHeight),
  new THREE.MeshBasicMaterial({ color: 0xff0000 })
);
scene.add(centralRect);

// Create surrounding rectangles
function createSurroundingRectangles(count) {
  const rectangles = [];
  
  for (let i = 0; i < count; i++) {
    // Random size within constraints
    const width = minWidth + Math.random() * (maxWidth - minWidth);
    const height = minHeight + Math.random() * (maxHeight - minHeight);
    
    // Calculate position (this is where your positioning algorithm comes in)
    const angle = (i / count) * Math.PI * 2; // Distribute around center
    const distance = centralWidth + width/2 + padding;
    const x = Math.cos(angle) * distance;
    const y = Math.sin(angle) * distance;
    
    const rect = new THREE.Mesh(
      new THREE.PlaneGeometry(width, height),
      new THREE.MeshBasicMaterial({ color: 0x0000ff })
    );
    rect.position.set(x, y, 0);
    
    scene.add(rect);
    rectangles.push(rect);
  }
  
  return rectangles;
}

Advanced Techniques

For more sophisticated layouts, you might want to:

1. Use a packing algorithm like binary space partitioning
2. Implement a force-directed layout where rectangles repel each other
3. Use the Box2 class from Three.js to handle rectangle collision detection
4. Apply constraints to ensure rectangles don't overlap

If you need more specific guidance, I'd be happy to elaborate on any of these approaches or discuss how to integrate them with your shader work.