====== Tutorial: Create and Modify a PCB Card Printer File from Kicad to Inkscape to use on LaserPrinter. ====== \\ ===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//