diff --git a/documentation.py b/documentation.py
index c8e590e..fe4a24d 100644
--- a/documentation.py
+++ b/documentation.py
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@ import logging
 import re
 import subprocess
 import os
+import glob
+import gdstk
+import cairosvg
 
 
 # documentation
@@ -57,3 +60,13 @@ def create_pdf(yaml):
     p = subprocess.run(pdf_cmd, shell=True)
     if p.returncode != 0:
         logging.error("pdf command failed")
+
+
+def create_svg(args):
+    gds = glob.glob(os.path.join(args.run_dir, 'results/final/gds/*gds'))
+    library = gdstk.read_gds(gds[0])
+    top_cells = library.top_level()
+    top_cells[0].write_svg('gds_render.svg')
+
+    if args.create_png:
+        cairosvg.svg2png(url='gds_render.svg', write_to='gds_render.png')
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b46c6ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+gdstk
+cairosvg
+requests
+yaml
diff --git a/tt_tool.py b/tt_tool.py
index 86935e9..3b50487 100755
--- a/tt_tool.py
+++ b/tt_tool.py
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 
     # documentation
     parser.add_argument('--create-project-pdf', help="create a single page PDF", action="store_const", const=True)
+    parser.add_argument('--create-svg', help="create a svg of the GDS layout", action="store_const", const=True)
+    parser.add_argument('--create-png', help="create a png of the GDS layout", action="store_const", const=True)
 
     # configure
     parser.add_argument('--create-user-config', help="create the user_config.tcl file with top module and source files", action="store_const", const=True)
@@ -67,5 +69,8 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     elif args.create_project_pdf:
         documentation.create_pdf(project_yaml)
 
+    elif args.create_svg or args.create_png:
+        documentation.create_svg(args)
+
     else:
         parser.print_help()