Printing on PCBs

[modsquad]

Okay so how do you get the cool component layout printed on the PCB after etching?  I would like to look more professional.

[Pushtone]

I read another forumite just used more PnP.

He ironed on a PnP transfer of a GGG WIRING layout onto the component side. Not the trace layout.

So size it in a graphics program. add text if necessary and mirror the image.
Print onto the PnP and iron on the opposite side as the traces.

[Gilles C]

I never tried it "yet" but a t-shirt tranfer paper would also do the job I think.

http://www.misterinkjet.com/tshirt-transfers.htm

You could cut the paper in some smaller photo size formats so that you don't need to use the whole sheet of paper at the same time.

Gilles

[modsquad]

I can see the PnP, but I noticed that most of the lettering is white.  Wouldn't using the PnP make it black as in the toner?

Stan

[Seljer]

Yep, its black, its pretty easy to see over those regular browny yellow PCB blanks. I've noticed that black component layouts were common on older (20+ years) PCBs too.

but thats the best you can do without going and doing actual screen printing like the big PCB manufacturers do to get white text and whatever other color...

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

If you use PnP, it isn't black, it's blue! (not sure how permanent the blue layer is though).