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When printing loaded layers from the Gerber Viewer,
the layer images are not printing (neither on the print preview) or the actual
print output.
?
I am having difficulty figuring this
out.
Printing from PcbNew works fine, and the Gerber
Viewer "shows" the loaded Gerber files just fine.
Using (2010-12-23 BZR 2684)-stable on
WinXP.
?
The problem may be related to the Plot Origin
setting when these Gerber files were generated in PcbNew.
I chose "Auxilary axis" when ploting the Gerber
files, and an Auxilary Axis has be set at the upper/left extremity of the PCB
limits.
?
I am getting ready to order boards.??
Help ! ! !
?
?
It is not really necessary to print from these
Gerber files, but I am making a paper model to check footprint sizes,
etc.
?
?
Thanks,
...Jim H.
?
?
?
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Hello Jim,
First => Did you select the layer to print ?
Second => Select also a page format (i.e. A4) in Preferences/Options/Display not to have your pic cut in the upper left corner. You can also move your pic into the page marging (ZOOM OUT before select the entire board).
Not sure that menu sentences are exact (I use the french version).
Regards, Yves.
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--- In kicad-users@..., "Jim Hughen" <jhughen@...> wrote:
When printing loaded layers from the Gerber Viewer, the layer images are not printing (neither on the print preview) or the actual print output.
I am having difficulty figuring this out.
Printing from PcbNew works fine, and the Gerber Viewer "shows" the loaded Gerber files just fine.
Using (2010-12-23 BZR 2684)-stable on WinXP.
The problem may be related to the Plot Origin setting when these Gerber files were generated in PcbNew.
I chose "Auxilary axis" when ploting the Gerber files, and an Auxilary Axis has be set at the upper/left extremity of the PCB limits.
I am getting ready to order boards. Help ! ! !
It is not really necessary to print from these Gerber files, but I am making a paper model to check footprint sizes, etc.
Thanks,
...Jim H.
|
Thanks Yves for your response,
?
First => I do
have the same print layers selected that are the Gerbers were loaded
onto.
Second 2 => Page Format is 8.5x11" (usually
called 'A' I think).
???????????????????
For Preferences/Options/Display, the only box with display options is "Display
Polar Coord" and I have it set to "No Display".
???????????????????????
Setting "Display Polar Coord" to "Display" does not seem to fix the
problem.
?
???????????????????
see my Preferences/Options/Display screen at the following link:??
?
???????I can try
switching to the French version and capture screens if that will
help.
?
thanks a bunch,
...Jim H.
?
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Show quoted text
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2011 1:38
PM
Subject: [kicad-users] Re: Having trouble
Printing from Gerber Viewer
?
Hello Jim,
First => Did you select the layer to print
?
Second => Select also a page format (i.e. A4) in
Preferences/Options/Display not to have your pic cut in the upper left corner.
You can also move your pic into the page marging (ZOOM OUT before select the
entire board).
Not sure that menu sentences are exact (I use the french
version).
Regards, Yves.
--- In kicad-users@...,
"Jim Hughen" wrote:
>
> When printing loaded
layers from the Gerber Viewer, the layer images are not printing (neither on
the print preview) or the actual print output.
>
> I am having
difficulty figuring this out.
> Printing from PcbNew works fine, and the
Gerber Viewer "shows" the loaded Gerber files just fine.
> Using
(2010-12-23 BZR 2684)-stable on WinXP.
>
> The problem may be
related to the Plot Origin setting when these Gerber files were generated in
PcbNew.
> I chose "Auxilary axis" when ploting the Gerber files, and an
Auxilary Axis has be set at the upper/left extremity of the PCB
limits.
>
> I am getting ready to order boards. Help ! !
!
>
>
> It is not really necessary to print from these
Gerber files, but I am making a paper model to check footprint sizes,
etc.
>
>
> Thanks,
> ...Jim
H.
>
|
Hello Jim,
In Gerbview Options, third column, choose any size (but A4 or legal shoul be a excellent choice) except the first (saying "do not show page limits). You can now move the gerbview inside the limits so that it is fully into the printed page.
The drawing seems not to take margins in consideration and is in the upper left corner of the printed page. If the board is very little it is fully in the margins.
That is the results I obtain but I use a windoze PC. I'll try with a linux box (2 running at home) later.
Yves.
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Show quoted text
--- In kicad-users@..., "Jim Hughen" <jhughen@...> wrote:
Thanks Yves for your response,
First => I do have the same print layers selected that are the Gerbers were loaded onto.
Second 2 => Page Format is 8.5x11" (usually called 'A' I think).
For Preferences/Options/Display, the only box with display options is "Display Polar Coord" and I have it set to "No Display".
Setting "Display Polar Coord" to "Display" does not seem to fix the problem.
see my Preferences/Options/Display screen at the following link:
I can try switching to the French version and capture screens if that will help.
thanks a bunch,
...Jim H.
----- Original Message -----
From: ymasquel
To: kicad-users@...
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2011 1:38 PM
Subject: [kicad-users] Re: Having trouble Printing from Gerber Viewer
Hello Jim,
First => Did you select the layer to print ?
Second => Select also a page format (i.e. A4) in Preferences/Options/Display not to have your pic cut in the upper left corner. You can also move your pic into the page marging (ZOOM OUT before select the entire board).
Not sure that menu sentences are exact (I use the french version).
Regards, Yves.
--- In kicad-users@..., "Jim Hughen" <jhughen@> wrote:
>
> When printing loaded layers from the Gerber Viewer, the layer images are not printing (neither on the print preview) or the actual print output.
>
> I am having difficulty figuring this out.
> Printing from PcbNew works fine, and the Gerber Viewer "shows" the loaded Gerber files just fine.
> Using (2010-12-23 BZR 2684)-stable on WinXP.
>
> The problem may be related to the Plot Origin setting when these Gerber files were generated in PcbNew.
> I chose "Auxilary axis" when ploting the Gerber files, and an Auxilary Axis has be set at the upper/left extremity of the PCB limits.
>
> I am getting ready to order boards. Help ! ! !
>
>
> It is not really necessary to print from these Gerber files, but I am making a paper model to check footprint sizes, etc.
>
>
> Thanks,
> ...Jim H.
>
|
I am loathe to claim there is a bug.
?
However it looks like "gerbview.exe" 12/23/2010
9:34 AM from (2010-12-23 BZR 2684)-stable, will not print
correctly.
?
Also "grebview.exe" 5/5/2010 5:13 AM from
(2010--05-05 BZR 2356)-stable, does print correctly.
?
Each of these grebview versions were tested with
the same gerberfile loaded (produced by latest KiCad).
See results:
????? #1. earlier KiCad
version:?
????? #2. later KiCad
version:
Notice #1 Print preview looks OK..
Notice #2 Print preview is blank.
?
I am planning to use the earlier KiCad greberview
for printouts.
If anyone can confirm or show otherwise about this
behavior, I would appreciate it.
Extensive Greber file testing is important for good
fab releases.
?
Thanks? --- have fun,
...Jim H.
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2011 12:49
PM
Subject: [kicad-users] Having trouble
Printing from Gerber Viewer
?
When printing loaded layers from the Gerber
Viewer, the layer images are not printing (neither on the print preview) or
the actual print output.
?
I am having difficulty figuring this
out.
Printing from PcbNew works fine, and the Gerber
Viewer "shows" the loaded Gerber files just fine.
Using (2010-12-23 BZR 2684)-stable on
WinXP.
?
The problem may be related to the Plot Origin
setting when these Gerber files were generated in PcbNew.
I chose "Auxilary axis" when ploting the Gerber
files, and an Auxilary Axis has be set at the upper/left extremity of the PCB
limits.
?
I am getting ready to order boards.??
Help ! ! !
?
?
It is not really necessary to print from these
Gerber files, but I am making a paper model to check footprint sizes,
etc.
?
?
Thanks,
...Jim H.
?
|
I normally use Gerbv for the purpose of checking Gerbers, since it is (AFAIK) independent of kicad. If the kicad developers made some mistake in Gerber creation there's a likelihood they will have made the same mistake reading and displaying the Gerber. Like you I have also printed out my Gerbers, but only to check connectivity. I've only once known kicad make a mistake here, and that was due to a slightly obscure bug which has been fixed. More importantly, I didn't spot it anyway during my checking because it was a spurious connection via unintended drill hole plating. So I've recently started to place trust in the ERC/DRC/connectivity testing tools. I do still use Gerbv for dimensional checking and for ensuring the layers are mutually compatible (most commonly meaning silk is not overlaid on pads). For this I find the different user interface reduces the risk of errors due to familiarity, ie thinking something is correct because you've been looking at it for the previous week not noticing it was wrong.
Regards,
Robert.
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Show quoted text
On 21/02/2011 23:58, Jim Hughen wrote: I am loathe to claim there is a bug.
However it looks like "gerbview.exe" 12/23/2010 9:34 AM from (2010-12-23 BZR 2684)-stable, will not print correctly.
Also "grebview.exe" 5/5/2010 5:13 AM from (2010--05-05 BZR 2356)-stable, does print correctly.
Each of these grebview versions were tested with the same gerberfile loaded (produced by latest KiCad).
See results:
#1. earlier KiCad version:
#2. later KiCad version:
Notice #1 Print preview looks OK..
Notice #2 Print preview is blank.
I am planning to use the earlier KiCad greberview for printouts.
If anyone can confirm or show otherwise about this behavior, I would appreciate it.
Extensive Greber file testing is important for good fab releases.
Thanks --- have fun,
...Jim H.
----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Hughen
To: kicad-users@...
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2011 12:49 PM
Subject: [kicad-users] Having trouble Printing from Gerber Viewer
When printing loaded layers from the Gerber Viewer, the layer images are not printing (neither on the print preview) or the actual print output.
I am having difficulty figuring this out.
Printing from PcbNew works fine, and the Gerber Viewer "shows" the loaded Gerber files just fine.
Using (2010-12-23 BZR 2684)-stable on WinXP.
The problem may be related to the Plot Origin setting when these Gerber files were generated in PcbNew.
I chose "Auxilary axis" when ploting the Gerber files, and an Auxilary Axis has be set at the upper/left extremity of the PCB limits.
I am getting ready to order boards. Help ! ! !
It is not really necessary to print from these Gerber files, but I am making a paper model to check footprint sizes, etc.
Thanks,
...Jim H.
---
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Very nice thinking.? I do use DRC checking
continually and use the Gerber view prior to fab release (today
hopefully).
I have used a Gerber viewer intentionally outside
of the PCB tool exactly for the same reasons you have mentioned.
The convenience of the KiCad viewer won me
over.? The KiCad tool really makes generating Gerbers nice.? (very
nice)
Usually I make a document that covers all of the
PCB components.? Including PDF pages in this doc seems
practical.
I like to make these PDFs from the Gerber
files.? So printing to a PDF file occurs.
?
The value of using an outside Gerber view is
certainly high.
?
I don't do net checks on paper anymore (yellow
line).? Used to do them religiously (years ago).
I have waited up to around 20 minutes for a DRC to complete (very early Tango).
KiCad does a great job and finishes
immediately.
?
I didn't know that KiCad would check silk overlaid
onto pads/vias.? I check this visually pretty extensively.
?
Thanks so much for sharing these
practices,
...Jim H.
?
?
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Show quoted text
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 3:01
AM
Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Having trouble
Printing from Gerber Viewer
?
I normally use Gerbv for the purpose of checking Gerbers, since it is
(AFAIK) independent of kicad. If the kicad developers made some
mistake in Gerber creation there's a likelihood they will have made the
same mistake reading and displaying the Gerber. Like you I have also
printed out my Gerbers, but only to check connectivity. I've only once
known kicad make a mistake here, and that was due to a slightly obscure
bug which has been fixed. More importantly, I didn't spot it anyway
during my checking because it was a spurious connection via unintended
drill hole plating. So I've recently started to place trust in the
ERC/DRC/connectivity testing tools. I do still use Gerbv for
dimensional checking and for ensuring the layers are mutually compatible
(most commonly meaning silk is not overlaid on pads). For this I find
the different user interface reduces the risk of errors due to
familiarity, ie thinking something is correct because you've been
looking at it for the previous week not noticing it was
wrong.
Regards,
Robert.
On 21/02/2011 23:58, Jim Hughen
wrote:
> I am loathe to claim there is a bug.
>
> However it
looks like "gerbview.exe" 12/23/2010 9:34 AM from (2010-12-23 BZR
2684)-stable, will not print correctly.
>
> Also "grebview.exe"
5/5/2010 5:13 AM from (2010--05-05 BZR 2356)-stable, does print
correctly.
>
> Each of these grebview versions were tested with
the same gerberfile loaded (produced by latest KiCad).
> See
results:
> #1. earlier KiCad version:
>
#2. later KiCad version:
>
Notice #1 Print preview looks OK..
> Notice #2 Print preview is
blank.
>
> I am planning to use the earlier KiCad greberview for
printouts.
> If anyone can confirm or show otherwise about this
behavior, I would appreciate it.
> Extensive Greber file testing is
important for good fab releases.
>
> Thanks --- have fun,
>
...Jim H.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jim
Hughen
> To: kicad-users@...
>
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2011 12:49 PM
> Subject: [kicad-users] Having
trouble Printing from Gerber Viewer
>
>
>
>
>
When printing loaded layers from the Gerber Viewer, the layer images are not
printing (neither on the print preview) or the actual print
output.
>
> I am having difficulty figuring this out.
>
Printing from PcbNew works fine, and the Gerber Viewer "shows" the loaded
Gerber files just fine.
> Using (2010-12-23 BZR 2684)-stable on
WinXP.
>
> The problem may be related to the Plot Origin setting
when these Gerber files were generated in PcbNew.
> I chose "Auxilary
axis" when ploting the Gerber files, and an Auxilary Axis has be set at the
upper/left extremity of the PCB limits.
>
> I am getting ready to
order boards. Help ! ! !
>
>
> It is not really necessary to
print from these Gerber files, but I am making a paper model to check
footprint sizes, etc.
>
>
> Thanks,
> ...Jim
H.
>
>
>
> ---
> avast! Antivirus: Inbound
message clean.
> Virus Database (VPS): 110221-0, 21/02/2011
>
Tested on: 22/02/2011 08:18:15
> avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2011 AVAST
Software.
>
>
>
>
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On 22/02/2011 11:58, Jim Hughen wrote: Very nice thinking. Thanks :) Gerber view prior to fab release (today hopefully). I have used a
Gerber viewer intentionally outside of the PCB tool exactly for the
same reasons you have mentioned. The convenience of the KiCad viewer
won me over. The KiCad tool really makes generating Gerbers nice. Yes, I use it as a quick and convenient tool if I just want to have a quick look-see (I have assigned the Gerber file extensions to the kicad Gerber viewer). I only use Gerbv for final checking. (very nice) Usually I make a document that covers all of the PCB
components. Including PDF pages in this doc seems practical. I like
to make these PDFs from the Gerber files. So printing to a PDF file
occurs. The only time I generated a PDF from Gerbv all I got was a huge purple rectangle. I was in a hurry so I just switched to exporting SVG, which worked nicely. I didn't know that KiCad would check silk overlaid onto pads/vias. I
check this visually pretty extensively. It doesn't, you have to check that manually. In the latest RC you can tell it to mask the pads, but that will just protect your pads, it wont make your silkscreen correct. Regards, Robert. -- () Plain text email - safe, readable, inclusive. /\
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