Setting up PCBs to Print

[Kearns892]

I'm trying to set up some PCB images I have to be printed. I can print to a PDF file easily enough, but to save on toner transfer paper I would like to be able to compile these all on to a single file for ease of printing. Suggestions on how to do this without messing up sizings?

[linny1982]

I save all the files as pdf then open them all in adobe illustrator. Then just copy and paste them all to 1 file. easy

[hday]

Acrobat won't do this, but other Adobe products will. When you go to print, rather than printing the image in the middle, print them in the corners. If you arrange it carefully, you could print quite a few PCBs on one sheet of paper, minus all of the PDF combining. Just remember to check how you paper feeds into the printer by marking a corner, so you don't print on the wrong side of the page.

Or you could always use something like Illustrator to cut the images out of the PDFs and compile them in a new document.

[Kearns892]

I'm having trouble opening my PDFs in my old version of illustrator, but I think I should be able to get it working. Additionally, some of the layouts I want to use are from the tonepad site and are secured to prevent editing. Is there anyway to extract only the PCB section from these as to not waste transfer paper?

[mikemaddux]

I just upgraded to windows 7 and it has a feature called "snipping tool"

I use either that or (usually) the prt scrn button (which copies your desktop)

if I "prt scrn" I have to paste the desktop image into another MS paint and cut and paste the PCB image

into a 7"x10" MS paint file compiled with all my other PCB/enclosure images - print at 100%, not fit-to-page

ready to etch!  I LOVE THE SMELL OF FERRIC CHLORIDE IN THE MORNING!!!!!  

PM me if you have any questions

[KazooMan]

Adobe reader has a snapshot tool that allows you to copy a section of the pdf to the clipboard and then into another program.  This option is not always available, depending on the file attributes.

What always works as a last resort for me is to print out the pdf (even scaling it up if desired making sure the pcb portion prints on the page) and then taking a picture of it with a digital camera.  You can then open the jpg in any photo editor and alter/copy/resize as much as you want.

Also, remember that you do not need to use a whole sheet of PNP transfer paper each time.  Just print out the pdf and cut a piece of PNP big enough for the pcb with a bit extra at the top.  Lay a blank sheet of paper over the pdf print out and then attach the piece of PNP in the proper spot with double sided tape (using the extra bit you added to the size).  The taped edge should be at the top so it feeds into the printer first.  Then reprint the pdf feeding the sheet in manually.  You just need to be certain to allow enough extra so that the double sided tape portion is not under the pcb,  Cut the transfer off and iron away.

[Kearns892]

I just upgraded to windows 7 and it has a feature called "snipping tool"

I use either that or (usually) the prt scrn button (which copies your desktop)

if I "prt scrn" I have to paste the desktop image into another MS paint and cut and paste the PCB image

into a 7"x10" MS paint file compiled with all my other PCB/enclosure images - print at 100%, not fit-to-page

ready to etch!  I LOVE THE SMELL OF FERRIC CHLORIDE IN THE MORNING!!!!!  

PM me if you have any questions

I have windows 7 as well and this was the first thing that came to my mind, however I was worried the resolution would suffer from the process and the resulting transfer much sloppier. Has this not been your experience?

Also, remember that you do not need to use a whole sheet of PNP transfer paper each time.  Just print out the pdf and cut a piece of PNP big enough for the pcb with a bit extra at the top.  Lay a blank sheet of paper over the pdf print out and then attach the piece of PNP in the proper spot with double sided tape (using the extra bit you added to the size).  The taped edge should be at the top so it feeds into the printer first.  Then reprint the pdf feeding the sheet in manually.  You just need to be certain to allow enough extra so that the double sided tape portion is not under the pcb,  Cut the transfer off and iron away.

I've done this for similar processes, but i do not own a toner printer so I will be making a special trip to a friends... I wanted to make the process fast by getting all my next planned builds on a  single page.

[mikemaddux]

I just upgraded to windows 7 and it has a feature called "snipping tool"

I use either that or (usually) the prt scrn button (which copies your desktop)

if I "prt scrn" I have to paste the desktop image into another MS paint and cut and paste the PCB image

into a 7"x10" MS paint file compiled with all my other PCB/enclosure images - print at 100%, not fit-to-page

ready to etch!  I LOVE THE SMELL OF FERRIC CHLORIDE IN THE MORNING!!!!!  

PM me if you have any questions

I have windows 7 as well and this was the first thing that came to my mind, however I was worried the resolution would suffer from the process and the resulting transfer much sloppier. Has this not been your experience?

Also, remember that you do not need to use a whole sheet of PNP transfer paper each time.  Just print out the pdf and cut a piece of PNP big enough for the pcb with a bit extra at the top.  Lay a blank sheet of paper over the pdf print out and then attach the piece of PNP in the proper spot with double sided tape (using the extra bit you added to the size).  The taped edge should be at the top so it feeds into the printer first.  Then reprint the pdf feeding the sheet in manually.  You just need to be certain to allow enough extra so that the double sided tape portion is not under the pcb,  Cut the transfer off and iron away.

I've done this for similar processes, but i do not own a toner printer so I will be making a special trip to a friends... I wanted to make the process fast by getting all my next planned builds on a  single page.

I haven't had a problem with the resolution while using the snipping tool.

[mikemaddux]

I have to add that the "prt scrn" function seems to work on all windows operating systems, not just windows 7.

I used to do it all the time with XP and Vista....

[ralley]

Inkscape is a free vector graphics program that can import PDFs (one page at a time).  I import all the pages into one file and re-arrange them to all fit on one page then print from within Inkscape.  Actually I normally save to PDF and then print from that, had some issues printing directly.
Rob.

[bumblebee]

I make an whole sheet of PNP/glossy paper worth of My PCB designs to print so I always have spares to use later but before i print them all and waste ink i put one small square of a certain size and in ratio to the PCBs in each corner of the PNG image and turn my printer to print in grey, once I have it printing to the correct scale i copy and paste the bunch of PCB circuits into the PNG file of the specific size, turn the printer back up to black then print as normal with any scaling needed. I always record the scaling % on the PNG file for future reference.

They key is to test print something to get the correct scale and als o turn your printer so it only prints in grey,all printers can do this so refer to your manual.

[linny1982]

I'm having trouble opening my PDFs in my old version of illustrator, but I think I should be able to get it working. Additionally, some of the layouts I want to use are from the tonepad site and are secured to prevent editing. Is there anyway to extract only the PCB section from these as to not waste transfer paper?

For the tonepad ones i just googled pdf unlocker programs and eventually found a free one that works. Doesn't work on all pdf's but works on most that I've tried