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From: "Erich Heinzle (a1039181 AT gmail DOT com) [via geda-user AT delorie DOT com]" <geda-user AT delorie DOT com>
Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2017 08:09:02 +1030
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Subject: Re: [geda-user] [HOWTO] Complex footprint element creation
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Precedence: bulk

The other approach suggested in their forum, using kicad's built-in
bitmap2component utility, seems to render the bitmap as polygonal
approximations of the provided bitmap, using the output of Peter
Selinger's utility, potrace...

https://github.com/KiCad/kicad-source-mirror/blob/master/bitmap2component/bitmap2component.cpp

Unless there is support for arbitrary polygonal copper pads in the
footprint element, whether it be KiCad or gEDA PCB / pcb-rnd, I am
thinking that this doesn't really solve the problem of solder mask
openings when generating gerbers for manufacture for such an element.

I think the solution comprising overlapping pad elements still wins,
until such time either:

1) arbitrary polygonal copper pads in the footprint element are
supported with automatic solder mask aperture generation on export to
gerber, or

2) explicit, local subtractive editing of the solder mask layer is supported

An interesting problem!

Cheers,

Erich.

> Ahh, seems to be a nice challange to find other ways to do it in the
> weekend. You forgot to include the link to the original posts:
>
> https://forum.kicad.info/t/layout-challenge-make-this-contact-pad-with-kicad/5634