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Export PCB Mask from Orcad layout

J

Jon Slaughter

Jan 1, 1970
0
Is there a way to export or convert the etching/routing to an image to be
printed? Right now I'm converting to PCB editor but this seems the long way
around. Just wondering if there is a way to print or export a photo mask
directly in layout.

Thanks,
Jon
 
L

Leon

Jan 1, 1970
0
Is there a way to export or convert the etching/routing to an image to be
printed? Right now I'm converting to PCB editor but this seems the long way
around. Just wondering if there is a way to print or export a photo mask
directly in layout.

Thanks,
Jon

The Pulsonix software I use can plot to a Windows printer. I use an
inkjet printer to produce the artwork for my homemade PCBs. You could
use a Gerber viewer and output from that to a printer, but it
shouldn't be necessary.

Leon
 
Q

qrk

Jan 1, 1970
0
Is there a way to export or convert the etching/routing to an image to be
printed? Right now I'm converting to PCB editor but this seems the long way
around. Just wondering if there is a way to print or export a photo mask
directly in layout.

Thanks,
Jon

You can print a layer directly to your printer driver (printer, pdf
generator, ...) from Layout.

Options | Post Processor Settings
Left click on the layer you want to print to highlight.
Right click and select "Plot to print manager".

You can also change the output format to "Printer Manager" and print
multiple layers as a batch file from Layout.

If you want to print the Gerber files, do that in GerbTool which comes
packaged with Layout.

If you really want to create image files so you can stick them in a
word processer document, get one of the printer driver interfaces that
use GhostScript. They will allow you to print to PDF and a variety of
image formats like GIF or PNG (don't use JPG for pcb artwork). I'm
using PDFCreator which can be found on SourceForge.

Mark
 
J

Jon Slaughter

Jan 1, 1970
0
Leon said:
The Pulsonix software I use can plot to a Windows printer. I use an
inkjet printer to produce the artwork for my homemade PCBs. You could
use a Gerber viewer and output from that to a printer, but it
shouldn't be necessary.

Yeah, I used an inkjet too. Going to get a laser printer to see if the
resolution is better. The inkjet worked fine but I'm going to try to do some
smt and not sure if the inkjet can handle it.
 
J

Jon Slaughter

Jan 1, 1970
0
qrk said:
You can print a layer directly to your printer driver (printer, pdf
generator, ...) from Layout.

Options | Post Processor Settings
Left click on the layer you want to print to highlight.
Right click and select "Plot to print manager".

Thanks, this is what I was looking for.
You can also change the output format to "Printer Manager" and print
multiple layers as a batch file from Layout.

When I did this the first time I got all the layers when I just wanted the
traces so I didn't know how to go about just printing one layer.
If you want to print the Gerber files, do that in GerbTool which comes
packaged with Layout.

I'll try it and see just for fun ;)
If you really want to create image files so you can stick them in a
word processer document, get one of the printer driver interfaces that
use GhostScript. They will allow you to print to PDF and a variety of
image formats like GIF or PNG (don't use JPG for pcb artwork). I'm
using PDFCreator which can be found on SourceForge.


Well, I use adobo and distiller which works well for the most part. GS
probably would work better but since I use adobe anyways and it does it I
guess there no real need to clutter up the system.

One problem with distiller is that some of the traces are not sharp. I
assume this is because its converting to jpg and it won't happen if I print
directly to a printer.

Thanks,
Jon
 
M

Marra

Jan 1, 1970
0
Is there a way to export or convert the etching/routing to an image to be
printed? Right now I'm converting to PCB editor but this seems the long way
around. Just wondering if there is a way to print or export a photo mask
directly in layout.

Thanks,
Jon

Try using GC Prevue by importing the gerber file and then printing it.

http://www.ckp-railways.talktalk.net/pcbcad21.htm
 
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