Factorio Forums

TL;DR

Blueprints could be made so that they do not have to snap strictly to a 'grid', allowing easier placement of blueprints that do not tessellate to a square grid.

What?

I suggest an additional rule to the blueprint Snap to grid feature that allows snapping to be offset by several tiles perpendicular to the axis of creation, like so:
This image emulates the blueprint having a rule that makes it snap to 4 tiles down from the first when dragged to the right. If it were dragged to the left, that rule would be inverted to make it snap 4 tiles up from the first. A similar rule could be applied to vertical placement, giving the blueprint a horizontal offset. Only the offset perpendicular to the direction of creation should be applied — we can already add empty tiles to a blueprint if we want tileable designs with gaps.

Why?

The most optimal or space-efficient pattern cares not about whether it aligns perfectly to a square grid.

If the Factory cannot not grow beyond the considerations of neat and cursed, it will forever remain a square.