KiCad

Image as footprint

Asked by Cedric Boudinet

Hello

Is there a way to use an image as a footprint in the copper layer?
I would like to include in my pcb the logo of my laboratory as a net.

Regards

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Wayne Stambaugh
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Joan (joanthesparky) said : 		#1

You might be able to abuse(*) the zone function to do what you want as copper layers expect linear segments only..?

*) converting the image to a vector graphic just consisting of linear segments and then using the coordinates to draw a closed zone outline for the copper pour and some inner zones for the areas that need to stay copper free?
You could also try to do it in one closed loop zone, but then need to be careful with the internal free areas as it's not straight forward.

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Wayne Stambaugh (stambaughw) said : 		#2

Lauch Bitmap2Component from KiCad to convert an image into Pcbnew objects to import into your board. It's not documented but it's pretty straight forward to use. Bitmap2Component will create a footprint file (.kicad_mod) which you can add to you footprint library table and add the footprint to your board.

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Cedric Boudinet (boudinpg) said : 		#3

@Wayne : I tried like this the logo is located in the Silks layer so it doesn't appear as a net
@Joan: Is it possible to use the outline in the module editor? I only find the way to use an outline with Edge cuts in pcbnew. And the trouble is that the outline is on both sides.

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Best Wayne Stambaugh (stambaughw) said : 		#4

On 11/22/2015 5:02 AM, Cedric Boudinet wrote:
> Question #274164 on KiCad changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/kicad/+question/274164
>
> Status: Answered => Open
>
> Cedric Boudinet is still having a problem:
> @Wayne : I tried like this the logo is located in the Silks layer so it doesn't appear as a net

That is where logos typically reside, on the silk screen layer. I
believe you can manually modify the (layers ) section in the .kicad_mod
file with any text editor if you wish to put your logo on the top or
bottom copper layers. The reason KiCad doesn't support this directly is
that the DRC cannot test the validity of these objects in copper so the
responsibility falls on the user. I believe we have users that have
done this in the past but it is not directly supported at this time. In
the future we may support it but some work will have to be done to the
Pcbnew internals before we do. This falls under the category of let the
user beware.

> @Joan: Is it possible to use the outline in the module editor? I only find the way to use an outline with Edge cuts in pcbnew. And the trouble is that the outline is on both sides.
>

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Cedric Boudinet (boudinpg) said : 		#5

Thanks Wayne Stambaugh, that solved my question.