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Date:	Sat, 7 Apr 2012 14:45:53 -0700
From:	Colin D Bennett <colin AT gibibit DOT com>
To:	geda-help AT delorie DOT com
Subject:	Re: [geda-help] Translate DXF to Gerber
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On Sat, 07 Apr 2012 12:38:54 -0400
Gus Fantanas <fantanas AT innocent DOT com> wrote:

> Import the DXF file to qCAD; print it as ps (observe the
> difference between printing and exporting); convert it to
> encapsulated ps with 'ps2epsi'; convert it to pcb using
> 'pstoedit' with the '-usbbfrominput' and '-f pcb' options; import
> it to PCB and move it to the appropriate layer if necessary.
> 
>  From PCB, then, you can generate a Gerber file.  I use the above 
> procedure to import weird board outlines and fancy fonts and
> graphics into PCB.  One caveat, though: The "vectorness" of the
> original is lost; curves are split into short line segments.

It loses a degree of smoothness from the original, but it is still
a vector image, not a bitmap image.  It will scale to any size
without pixelating; in most cases you will only see the jagginess of
curves if you zoom in very far.  There is an option for 'pstoedit'
that lets you increase the smoothness of its output (by using
shorter line segments).  Specify something like “-flat 0.01” to
improve output smoothness.

> You should be able to generate a vector graphics file in Inkscape
> and then export it as epsi, skipping the first three steps
> above.  This opens up a lot of possibilities, like better fonts,
> logos, etc.

You can also load a DXF file directly into Inkscape as
well instead of using QCAD.  Then the process goes like:

DXF ---(Inkscape)---> EPS ---(pstoedit)---> PCB

Inkscape doesn't have as advanced a DXF processor, so some things
aren't rendered true to the original, like font styles, etc., but
it has worked well for importing complex board outlines, etc.

Regards,
Colin

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