Using ExpressPCB

[zener]

I've made a PCB layout for Doug Hammond's Hot Silicon using ExpressPCB.

How can I transfer the entire layout to other app. Copy-and-paste doesn't work. I will try post it if ever I figure out how to do it.

Thanks for any help :wink:

Zener

[bwanasonic]

If you are trying to do this for printing to PnP, etc., do a search here for some tips on getting useable results. I use the program, but only for laying out and *idiotproofing* my pad-per-hole perf builds.

Kerry M

[Mike Nichting]

I couldn't figure it out either. So I printed my layouts out. But it seems that you can't print them without the grid showing up. I emailed Express PCB about that and they said it can't be done.
So I print out the bottom layer and just the pads show up. I then take a sharpie and a ruler and trace the lines for the layout. I then take the layout and my PNP blue to the office depot and have them transfer the layout to my PNP for me for $.07 cents each.

Works great evry time~!!

Good luck.

Mike N.

[nightingale]

you can trick the program~
by changing the colors, and doing a screen shot... check the archives... to find i site that explains axactly how...
hth,

[Adam Shame]

Here is what I do.  It is kinda complicated, but once you do it a few times, it gets pretty easy:

- In options, I make sure the colors for "Top Layer" and "Corners, Top Layer" are the same (I use black).  I also make sure the background is White.  Also, deselect the Show Grid box in the view tab.

- I lay everything out, and center the layout within the the board edges in ExpressPCB.

- I maximize the window for ExpressPCB and I use the zoom tool (it is a box with a magnifying glass on the left hand menu).  I click and drag the box around the border box.  This is to make the layout as big as possible.

- I hit the PRINT SCREEN button on my keyboard to take a screen capture.

- I open up Adobe Photoshop, and create a new image (it automatically sizes the image to your screen resolution).  I hit PASTE (or Ctrl+V) and your screen capture posts onto the new image.

- I then crop around the board edges on the screen capture image.  I ususally go to the inside edge of the line of the board edge.  Crop off everything that is outside of the lines.

- I make a note of the size of the board in ExpressPCB.  You can stick your pointer on the bottom-right corner of the board to get the exact size.

- Go back into Photoshop and resize the image's PRINT SIZE to the exact same size as the board in ExpressPCB.

You now have a perfect layout for your boards!  You can also make the canvas bigger/smaller in photoshop, but don't resize the image or it will throw everything out of whack (especially with ICs and such).  I get pretty good results with this using the photo-paper transfer method.

[nightingale]

nice job adam~
now we can link people to this thread in the archive... this Q seems to come up alot...

[zener]

Thanks a lot guys, especially Adams.

Zener

[william]

Thats the exact way I do it as well.  I've made a bunch of PCB's doing it this way.