A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computer processing system are provided for generating synthetic layout patterns. The method includes receiving, by a processor, a set of physical design layouts that include a variety of layout patterns for neural network training. The method further includes generating, by the processor, a set of training layout pattern images for the neural network training by performing automatic image capturing on the set of physical design layouts with scripts. The method also includes training, by the processor, a feedforward neural network (FFNN)-based Variational Autoencoder (VAE) with the set of training layout pattern images. The method additionally includes generating, by the processor using the FFNN-based VAE, new synthetic layout images.