importing pcb image to cad software?

[fogwolf]

If there's a project on Tonepad or GGG in PDF format and I wanted to make changes to the transfer PCB image, how would I get this into cad software? Would I have to manually re-draw or is there an easier way?

Thanks.

[R.G.]

You would first ask the copyright owner for permission to make a derivative work. Control of derivative works is one of the rights in "copyright".

[fogwolf]

Okay. Even for personal use (non-commercial)? Didn't realize that. Thanks.

You would first ask the copyright owner for permission to make a derivative work. Control of derivative works is one of the rights in "copyright".

[R.G.]

Of course, given the proper assurances that it's a one-off, one-time personal-use-only item and will not then be dusted across the internet, most copyright owners would say "sure".

But yes, by the letter of the law even one-time personal use only derivative works are covered under copyright. It's patents where a single personal use copy is allowed without permission.

[fogwolf]

Good to know. Thank you.

Of course, given the proper assurances that it's a one-off, one-time personal-use-only item and will not then be dusted across the internet, most copyright owners would say "sure".

But yes, by the letter of the law even one-time personal use only derivative works are covered under copyright. It's patents where a single personal use copy is allowed without permission.

[alanlan]

If there's a project on Tonepad or GGG in PDF format and I wanted to make changes to the transfer PCB image, how would I get this into cad software? Would I have to manually re-draw or is there an easier way?

Thanks.

I don't know about doing it with Cad software - if you were to go down this route, you probably would be better off starting with the circuit + your mods and taking the existing layout as a guide.  If you're just doing minor tweaks from an image in a pdf you would probably be better off using an ordinary drawing tool.

[fogwolf]

Thanks - any specific drawing program you would recommend (I have both a Mac and a PC)?

If there's a project on Tonepad or GGG in PDF format and I wanted to make changes to the transfer PCB image, how would I get this into cad software? Would I have to manually re-draw or is there an easier way?

Thanks.

I don't know about doing it with Cad software - if you were to go down this route, you probably would be better off starting with the circuit + your mods and taking the existing layout as a guide.  If you're just doing minor tweaks from an image in a pdf you would probably be better off using an ordinary drawing tool.

[alanlan]

For Cad, I use Eagle (works well on a Mac) but there are others.  For drawing, you could simply use Paint or similar.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

I'm sure there are plenty of free progs for converting tiff or gif to the various cad formats.
What you are trying to do, is convert raster art to vector graphics. (if by 'cad' you mean drawing programs).
usually easier with tiff or gif starting point, so you don't have work through jpg (problems with artifacts).

[darron]

pdf and cad are both vector formats, and both formats supported by illustrator and many other vector imaging programs. all that you'd need to do is import the file and re-export it as cad. i think i actually needed to get an export plugin for illustrator to do that, but they are really easy to find on the web.


but then you hit the problem that most of those guys have password protected their files, making it a pain in the arse to import them into anything except acrobat or your browser to print ect. properly. so you'd have to break the password and go against their wishes.

OR you could rasterise the image, bring it into the imaging software and convert it to vector. it's not AS good of an idea but at least it would work if you needed to feed it into a machine that would only take cad.

[fogwolf]

Thanks for all the information.

By the way for those (like myself) who don't have Illustrator, I found this free open source 2D vector illustration program - http://www.inkscape.org/ - haven't tried it yet but from what I've read so far it should be able to import a PDF file and export to dxf.

pdf and cad are both vector formats, and both formats supported by illustrator and many other vector imaging programs. all that you'd need to do is import the file and re-export it as cad. i think i actually needed to get an export plugin for illustrator to do that, but they are really easy to find on the web.


but then you hit the problem that most of those guys have password protected their files, making it a pain in the arse to import them into anything except acrobat or your browser to print ect. properly. so you'd have to break the password and go against their wishes.

OR you could rasterise the image, bring it into the imaging software and convert it to vector. it's not AS good of an idea but at least it would work if you needed to feed it into a machine that would only take cad.