How to print PCB photo images properly? (help help!) + ironing how?

[GravityRobert]

Book of whining and faillure - By GravityRobert

Chapter 1: Printing the pcbs

Today I've had quite the irritating moment, after 2 hours of struggling on my dad's work pc (only computer connected to the laser printer on the office) I finally got a couple good prints (which I destroyed by ironing them wrongly)
I can get the PDF files to work as I can scale them down to their real size, however regular pics seem to be somewhat of an issue. How do you guys do it, so its scaled properly? I dont wanna bend the leads of my parts 

In case anybody has a PDF file of the beginner boost project pcb or heavy darling, I'd truly appreciate it if you could post it.

Chapter 2: Ironing... how?

I can't seem to get the paper to stick properly without sticking to my iron. I tried it twice, fairly large boards (noisy crickets). Pressed the iron (in highest mode) on the board for about 20 seconds, then used the tip and sometimes pressed with the whole body of the iron. Firstly without anything between the board (my mom didnt like that because I was using her expensive iron  ) and then with a handkerchief between the board and the iron. Didnt work that well either. Is there anything i can put between it so I dont destroy my iron or a special method of ironing that works?

Thanks^³

[jpm83]

I can't help you with that ironing problem, because I use carbon paper & paint pen method.
     But for printing things in real size from a Gif. file I use this method. I count the number of holes that would fit in the hight/length of the bord like in vero or perf (usually you can count them exactly just change a "strip" when the holes end in the position you are in).
   Then I open the Gif. file in Gimp and crop the picture exactly to the size of the board. Then I go to the change printing size or printing size from image menu and if the board was for example 21 holes wide (grid between holes is 0,1") I change the length to 2.1" and just click the height field and it computes it automatically to right size then I either print the file or save it in jpeg.
   This may seem a bit complicated but this is how I do it and have done it with success many times.

Janne

[GravityRobert]

Thanks, I think I'm gonna give this a try. Sounds like it might just work 

[gutsofgold]

I had the same image problem you were having, and no one could really offer a standard solution as to how far components should be spaced. So I just printed out a few different sizes on some scrap paper and mock placed my components on it to see if they would fit ok.

Not sure why you your images aren't sticking either. You are using glossy photo paper right? Make sure you poke holes in the paper where there is no toner, I've found that this helps with both a good adhesion of toner and it makes scraping the left over paper backing off a lot easier. Also, I start by ironing directly onto the photopaper to get it to stick to the board (I do two opposing corners). Then I place regular office paper between the iron and the photo pap while actually pressing down.

[Zben3129]

Let the iron heat up first,

then, place the iron on the CLEAN board for 30s-1m

This will preheat the board.

Take the iron off and put the paper on (becareful, its hot! And also, be careful, because when you put it down, it will stick and that is where it is staying!)

Put a piece of normal paper over it

Put the iron on top for 30s-1m

Then, with the paper on, iron as usual.


Thats the method I used to use, worked for me. Don't blame me if you ruin anything though

Good Luck

Zach

[GravityRobert]

Thanks guys, I forgot to poke holes in the paper. The tutorial I used didnt mention this 

[fixr1984]

I resize my image on screen till it is the correct size. I mostly use an 8 pin ic socket for a comparison.
Then I measure what the image size is. When I print I select the print to a specific size option and
enter the measurement. I've had great luck this way, in fact the picture is exact, I can hold the paper up
to my screen and the pictures match perfectly.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

For some people it all works first time.
Other people succeed on maybe the 20th time. Or later.
Why is this so?
It's because there are so many variables - the iron, the paper, the copier, the toner, how hard you press etc.
So you will see many different descriptions, and photoessays. Each of which worked for one person - eventually.