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====== Tutorial: Create and Modify a PCB Card Printer File from Kicad to Inkscape to use on LaserPrinter. ======
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===Before creating .svg file from Kicad, you should know...===

It's very important that you set correctly the PCB Card's components design on Kicad at first. To set those, follow the next steps in the link [[ :kicad_design_rules | Kicad Design Rules ]].

===On KiCAD===

First, fillzone important settings on //**Copper Zone Properties**//:

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:1f.png?nolink |}}

The spoke width has to be as wide as possible:

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:2f.png?nolink |}}

Save the file on .SVG image format using the next settings: //-File / Export SVG File-//:
  * //File Option//: One file per layer.
  * //Print Mode//: Black and white.
  * //Copper Layers//: F.Cu and B.Cu
  * Indicate the Output Directory.
  * Press //Plot//.

Must be careful when fill the //Export SVG file// window. Next images show the how modify these setting correctly:

**NO:**

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:3f.png?nolink |}}

**YES**

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:4f.png?nolink |}}

This completes the KiCAD settings and a SVG image will be saved. The next process parts are made on //**InkScape**//
 program.

===On InkScape===

Open the SVG image with InkScape from the file directory:

  $inkscape Three-phase\ bridge-B_Cu.svg
  
{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:5f.png?nolink |}}

Select the image margin and delete it //(Supr)//. It should show like that:

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:6f.png?nolink |}}

The next step is select all the objects for export them to Bitmap:

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:7f.png?nolink |}}

To export the Bitmap, go to //-File / Export Bitmap-// or using the command //Shift-Ctrl-E//. The //Export Bitmap// window could take a while to open:

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:8f.png?nolink |}}

Choose the //“Selection”// tab and type **4000 dpi** under //Bitmap size//. The bigger the //dpi// the better the quality, but the longer it takes to process the image. If the //dpi// is too low, the resulting image will be pixeled and later in the process the vectorization may not work as expected. If the //dpi// is to high (5000dpi), InkScape will refuse to import the image.

Press the //Export// botton. Then import the PNG file using //-File / Import-// or the command //Ctrl+I//. Open it:

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:9f.png?nolink |}}
 
In the //Link or embed image// option, select //embed// (Always):

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:10f.png?nolink |}}

Then select the //-Path / Trace Bitmap-// or using the command //Shift+Alt+B//:

Set //Mode// tab:

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:11f.png?nolink |}}

Set //Options// tab:

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:12f.png?nolink |}}

Set //Credits// tab:

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:13f.png?nolink |}}

Leave the default options untouched and press //OK//.

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:14f.png?nolink |}}

Drag the new vector image (it is over the imported Bitmap image):

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:15f.png?nolink |}}

Press //F2// or //¨Edit Paths by notes¨// just to check that is was correctly traced. The vector image will be full of points:

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:16f.png?nolink |}}

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:17f.png?nolink |}}

Now select the normal mouse pressing //F1// or //¨Select and Transform objects¨//:

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:18f.png?nolink |}}

Select the traced image and break it (//Ctrl+Shift+K//):

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:19f.png?nolink |}}

Go to //-Objects / Fill and Stroke// and press ¨x¨ on the Fill Tab (//No paint//):

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:20f.png?nolink |}}

Flat color under //¨Stroke paint¨// tab:

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:21f.png?nolink |}}

On //¨Stroke style¨//:
  *Width=0.001 in

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:22f.png?nolink |}}

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:23f.png?nolink |}}

Combine the vectorized image: //Ctrl+K//. If the image dissapears or turn all white, adjust the fill, stroke and width again.

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:24f.png?nolink |}}

Select the original SVG image and take note of the hight and width on **px**:

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:25f.png?nolink |}}

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:26f.png?nolink |}}

Select the new vectorized image and change its hight and wight to the original SVG image size //(again ckeck the stoke, fill and width)//:

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:27f.png?nolink |}}

It is likely that the resizing of the image did not go all well, so if the number are not exactly what they should than resize it again:

  *Wrong:
{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:28f.png?nolink |}}

  *Correct:
{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:29f.png?nolink |}}

It is strictly necessary that the sizes match because the real PCB need to fit front and back sides (in case of dual side PCBs) as well with the components.

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:30f.png?nolink |}}

Now, you can delete the original SVG image and the bitmap image:

{{ :from_kicad_to_inkscape_laserprinter:31f.png?nolink |}}

Finally, save the **pdf** file and ENJOY.

//Documentation by // //[[tumacher@gmail.com|Sebastian Chinchilla Gutierrez]] 2014/08/22 16:26// \\
Part of Project Graduation Degree

//DokuWiki: // --- //[[dhabay14@gmail.com|Dannier Castro León]] 2014/08/22 16:31//