Photoresist PCB question. Printed page artwork to transparency? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Chris Wilson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 11:59:49 am
content: I have successfully made several PCB boards using photoresist methods. But every time I have had a .eps file to work from and print it directly on to the transparent material. I now need to do some boards where the only form of layout I have is an actual size diagram on the printed page of a book. One is in the back of an old ARRL handbook. How do I go from the printed page to printing it onto the transparency material, retaining scale? The articles I have read are deliciously vague about this step.... Thanks.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 12:03:36 pm
content: Photocopier?

author: Chris Wilson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 12:07:43 pm
content: Do all photocopiers retain perfect scale? I have never worked in an office, sounds like a job for `er indoors, to take into work. I think she's just about got over copying the HP 8568B SA manual from a cd by nowThanks.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 02:47:28 pm
content: Scan it at 1200dpi or more then clean up and adjust to scale if necessary in your favourite image editor (Gimp, Photoshop...) before printing at 1200dpi onto your transparencies

author: Mike S
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 05:38:06 pm
content: After you have it scanned, try opening it in Adobe Illustrator and click on object/live trace. It'll convert the image to vector format.It doesn't always work all that great, but it wouldn't hurt to try.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 06:03:51 pm
content: When scanning the image place 2 rulers on the platen to give you a scaling factor to check in the image, most if not all scanners are not exactly linear and will distort the image a little in one or more axes. The urulers from Dave are perfect to place there for the scaling. When it is in your favourite image manipulator program then you scale to the correct dimensions, then convert to a greyscale and then convert to a black and white image for printing the way you normally do.

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 06:11:03 pm
content: I've never done this , so please bear with me, do you have to print it mirror or reverse, I've seen many circuits I'd like to try, and make my own pcb, but this has always where I stumble.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 07:29:15 pm
content: Doing toner transfer you print mirrored so that you have the toner in direct contact with the board. Works with UV exposure as well as then you do not have any diffraction from the thickness of the film.

author: Chris Wilson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2013, 12:07:52 am
content: urulers from Dave? Where can I find these? Thanks all for the info everyone, and M0BSW, I am glad I am not aloneEdit: Sorry, being pretty vacant there. Dave = Dave Jones, right, just looked up urulers. Neat! Thanks.

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2013, 06:16:02 pm
content: Quote from: Chris Wilson on December 20, 2013, 12:07:52 amHi Chris, OK ,I've seen many circuits many in Radio magazines I've wanted to have a go at, I wouldn't want to mess up the copper sided boards, in the attempt to expensive, I most certainly can't get to grips with the programs that you can design and get made , that looks like a mine field, for me it mostly vero board or perf board.