I prefer using GIMP because of the visual presentation when creating the images.
You can make a 2D array image on one layer and export with options that give a 2D control such as rows selected as random and columns selected as angular, or whatever.
You need to set the GIMP grid overlay to divide up the image so you know where to paint the images. Then the Export options divide it up according the the distance/size settings that you enter.
I suggest that you try it to see what it can do.
If you make a .gih file then you can open it with a text editor and it contains a short technical ‘format’ statement followed by a large and unreadable section of encoded images.
e.g.
That one is four images selected with the ‘incremental’ selection option.
As I remember, the format statement for a GIMP created .gih file is identical to one created with krita, as it should be.