Circuit schematic rendering software  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: wolf32d
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 04:01:56 pm
content: Hi guys!I'm looking for a Circuit schematic diagram rendering software (for lab reports)... Are you aware of any?I'm not looking for a cad or pcb layout software, just a 2d renderer that outputs image files (possibly svg or similar).BTW I'm wondering what kind of software they use at Linear Tech for their nice datasheets

author: KhronX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 04:10:51 pm
content: Is anything wrong with drawing up your schematic in any program, and then making a screenshot and saving that?

author: wolf32d
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 04:25:47 pm
content: I'm looking for some "scientific paper-grade" sw, not a cheap & sloppy solution. Besides, screenshots does not give you scalable vector images

author: KhronX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 04:40:55 pm
content: Well, i'd be quite surprised if any CAD suite offered the option to export imagesBut hey, you learn new things every day...

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 06:20:47 pm
content: For small circuits I think SVG is an option, as you mentioned. I use inkscape to create SVG front panel designs and it works really well for me.This dude's "symbol generator" utilities for inkscape look nice but installing them seems a bit of a task, shame its not an online service for symbol design and download:https://github.com/fsmMLK/inkscapeCircuitSymbolshttps://github.com/fsmMLK/inkscapeLogicGatesThere are some basic symbols in this simple SVG file:https://github.com/rangerjo/electrical_symbols_library/blob/master/electrical_symbols_library.svgWikimedia has some small schematics in SVG format:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Schematic_active_battery_balancing.svghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cc-opamp-schematic.svghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pierce_Quarz_Oszillator.svghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SEPIC_Schaltung.svg

author: Farley
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 06:43:23 pm
content: QuoteThat graphic you showed looks like it was created in Inkscape or a similar program. If you look closely at some of the 90 deg corners you can see that the schematic connections are more similar to rectangles than lines. They don't blend together at the corners.I would agree with voltsandjolts that Inkscape would be the way to go if this is the style of schematic you're looking for. Inkscape's native format is SVG.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 07:14:20 pm
content: Visio used to have a library of electric symbols, do not know if it still does.

author: timb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 08:13:10 pm
content: If you're in a Mac, check out ElectricDesign:https://vutienthinh.wordpress.com/electricdesign/(Also available in the Mac App Store.)The UI is a bit rough, but it has pretty much all the electrical symbols you'd need, plus you can import your own.That author also has a general diagraming app called xDiagram which includes the full set of electronics symbols from ElectricDesign, plus many other types (general flow charting, logic, networking, etc).I used it while working on a book and it produced reasonably good results, though I don't use it anymore. Now I use Autodesk Graphic (formerly iDraw) which is a vector drawing program, like Inkscape or Adobe Illustrator. I've recently been working on creating an app note for someone, so I ended up creating some custom libraries of electronics symbols in it to allow easy reuse.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 08:27:03 pm
content: LTspice can export WMF, which Inkscape can import. However some components containing arcs drawn in the LTspice symbol editor (e.g. inductors) don't seem to render properly, so you'll have some fixing up to do once you have the schematic in SVG format. Ordinary lines, circles, text etc in symbols or directly placed on the schematic are fine.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 08:36:25 pm
content: There's a LaTeX package for schematics, though I haven't used it, and don't know how difficult it is. It looks good, and is vector output.Tim

author: ebclr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 08:42:59 pm
content: I came to everycircuit.com and simple can't resist and paid the 15 USD they ask for, simple and easy to share

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 08:50:25 pm
content: ProfiCAD is worth a look. The full version is free for non commercial use...https://www.proficad.com/download.aspx

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 09:02:46 pm
content: Quote from: Bud on December 25, 2016, 07:14:20 pmMS Visio was my first thought for the OP too.Easy to save in other formats for simple inclusion into documents.

author: julian1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 09:19:53 pm
content: Kicad (free) can output postscript and SVG - both vector formats of schematics that look really good, using 'print to file'.Edit, playing a bit more, and there is a dedicated plot function for - SVG, postscript, DXF. SVG opens up in inkscape fine.

author: julian1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 09:23:14 pm
content: Couldn't immediately load the svg, but this is what the rasterized postscript looks like,

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 10:52:46 pm
content: From EDA tools, it's all about how much effort you put into your library models (symbols). I like to think mine are attractive:Julian1's above example shows crisp vector lines, but a lot of visual clutter (like unused pins, pin names/numbers, etc.). Which is much more practical for real EDA development, but less attractive for pretty-printing. Like I said, just a matter of effort. If it means creating multiple symbols for "pretty" and "implementation" use, that can be what it takes.You may end up with several separate versions of schematics and drawings, to cover everything: for example, block diagrams (graphical only), schematic snippets (prettyprinted, may be graphical or EDA-based), and the actual implementation schematic (for SCH - PCB use). Keeping them all in sync is hard, and no, there really isn't anything to help out with that.Tim

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 11:24:15 pm
content: Any CAD software that can print at all, can print to PDF if you install a 'print to PDF' printer device. For instance as in Foxit PDF reader.The PDF result is vector format and scalable, so then you can open it in Photoshop (eg CS6) and 'save for web' in whatever bitmapped overall resolution, bits per pixel, color range and file format you like. (Tip: use PNG, don't use JPG.)For instance that's how I did the schematic here:http://everist.org/NobLog/20161129_3d_learning_curve.htm#psAs for appearance, as others mentioned, that's down to your component library. I tend to make my own, with modular sizes, as the standard ones typically were done by someone with little aesthetic sense and no care for overall visual consistancy.

author: pitagoras
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2016, 10:28:02 pm
content: I would try to find books/papers where you like how the circuits look, and look in the credits if they mention the tools used.I did some research as I like nice drawings too.LT Application Notes are very well designed and the font matches the symbols style.I found this thread:http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/1024/good-tools-for-drawing-schematicsI specially liked the online solution:https://www.circuitlab.com/which exports to SVG among other formats.The latex solution is very nice but unfortunately you have to enter the nodes by hand. Probably some net translation from gsheme can be made with not much effort.

author: Cerebus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2017, 03:39:44 am
content: Quote from: T3sl4co1l on December 25, 2016, 08:36:25 pmI had a quick look at this recently and I'd sayfiendishlydifficult, and I'm quite happy with most TeX/LaTeX shenanigans. If you really, really wanted to use it you could, but I reckon I could get a clean diagram out five times faster starting from scratch in Illustrator and exporting to pdf/EPS/SVG/whatever. One for the TeX/LaTeX purists methinks...

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2017, 07:41:32 am
content: Quote from: wolf32d on December 25, 2016, 04:01:56 pmJust had another glance at your illustration, and I see two flaws that prove it was drawn with a general purpose graphics program like Photoshop or Illustrator.One is the misplaced line in the ground symbol. No way a schematic capture package would have a mistake like that persisting in a well used ground symbol.The other is tiny but telling. See the way the lines at that corner in the FET don't quite form a neat corner? While the corner just to the right of that one is perfect. Someone was drawing with the line tool and didn't quite mate them properly. Looks like the lines are drawn with at least 6 pixels line width. And anti-aliasing on curves. In bitmapped mode, not vector. If it was vector-based you'd surely not get those corner snap-failures. See blowup 2nd pic.Also the arrows. Way too nice for any CAD program.

author: Karel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2017, 09:53:18 am
content: Quote from: KhronX on December 25, 2016, 04:40:55 pmEagle can do this for years. Install the free ULP "eagle2svg-1.2.ulp" and you can export a schematic or a layout to svg.Works like a charm.

author: Rerouter
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2017, 10:01:53 am
content: expresspcb can export as a vector image, its free, but limiting for actual PCB work, for your purpose it should be fine.

author: pitagoras
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2017, 07:13:51 pm
content: By chance, reading another thread, I found that elector used McCadhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/found-a-very-good-lab-supply-design/

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2017, 08:32:26 pm
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on January 01, 2017, 07:41:32 amActually, those dodgy corners look exactly like what you get in Illustrator with the corner mitre set wrong.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2017, 01:29:22 am
content: Try LTspice IV. It's free.Takes a few hours to get used to using it just for schematics. Not only will it do the schematic, but you can also model with it as well. Allow a whole day to learn how to do the modelling if you want to go that far. You might get extra marks for modelling the circuit. LTspice is very useful. It is sort of doing breadboarding without having to do breadboarding.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2017, 06:16:53 am
content: Quote from: helius on January 01, 2017, 08:32:26 pmMy thoughts exactly when I read TerraHertz's comment: to me the corner error actuallyscreamsvector graphics program. Which is precisely what an art department would use to produce final graphics like that, since CAD software has historically been woefully, um,utilitarianin terms of output quality…And sorry, open-source fans, they didn't use Inkscape. Professional graphic artists use real graphic design tools, not the hard-to-use toys the OSS world has managed to produce so far. Adobe Illustrator, Deneba Canvas (which is actually kinda optimized for technical drawings), etc are the leaders here, in the past you'd have seen a ton of work in Macromedia FreeHand as well.

author: donotdespisethesnake
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2017, 09:16:44 am
content: Quote from: wolf32d on December 25, 2016, 04:25:47 pmYeah, because scientific paper-grade graphics must look good, it doesn't matter about the content. Amazing that any science got done without Adobe Illustrator.Seriously, just use KiCAD already, and don't waste your time on making things "look pretty" with inappropriate "professional" software used by marketing types.

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2017, 10:12:49 am
content: The reason scientific papers are made with LaTeX instead of MS Word is precisely because of how it makes them look. Aesthetics are critically important the same way that clear handwriting is important for lab notes.

author: TheAmmoniacal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 03, 2017, 10:59:12 am
content: LaTeX with circuitikz is definitely the way to go if you plan on writing a lot in the future. Steep learning curve though. I forced myself to use it for the few lab reports I did in EE, and it was a lot of googling around, copying, stitching together, modifying etc.Quick and dirty sample attached.

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 03, 2017, 11:05:22 am
content: Quote from: TheAmmoniacal on January 03, 2017, 10:59:12 amNice. Can we see the source code for that please?

author: TheAmmoniacal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 03, 2017, 11:08:51 am
content: Quote from: voltsandjolts on January 03, 2017, 11:05:22 amBe cautious asking to see my "code", it might just give you cancer.Code:\documentclass{article}\usepackage{graphicx}\usepackage{circuitikz}\begin{document}\begin{circuitikz}[scale=1]\draw(5,.5) node [op amp] (opamp) {}(5,.5) node {741}(opamp.up) to [ short, -o ] (4.915,1.5) node {+9$\rm{V}$}(opamp.down) to [ short, -o ] (4.915,-0.5) node {-9$\rm{V}$}(0,0) node  {$\rm{V_{we}}$} to [R, l=$\rm{R_1}$, o-*] (2,0)to [R, l=$\rm{R_2}$, *-*] (opamp.+)to [C, l_=$\rm{C_{2}}$, *-] ($(opamp.+)+(0,-2)$) node  {}(opamp.out) |- (3.5,2.5) to [C, l_=$\rm{C_{1}}$, *-] (2,2.5) to  (2,0)(opamp.-) -| (3.5,2.5)(opamp.out) to [short, *-o] (7,.5) node  {$\rm{V_{wy}}$};\end{circuitikz}\end{document}(MikTex, TexMaker, Win 10)

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2017, 01:26:30 am
content: Quote from: TheAmmoniacal on January 03, 2017, 10:59:12 amLooks nice in some respects. But another element that's essential for stylish looking schematics is the ability to line things up. For which some kind of snap-to-grid is essential. There are several line-up failures in that quick and dirty example, and if you are laying out symbols by specifying numeric co-ordinates, aligning will be a massive pain.But the schematic capture packages that I've known, never have decent ability to control line weight and text formatting. Not to mention curved paths, variable transparency layers, etc.While good graphical packages like Photoshop/Illustrator have poor snap-to-grid abilities and lack all the concepts of symbol libraries, circuits & nodes, netlists, pin attributes, ergonomics of circuit drawing, etc needed for actual functional schematics.I wish there was some schematic capture package (available for low cost) that did cater to aesthetic/publishing needs.At the moment I'm trying as an experiment doing a fairly complex workflow block diagram, as much in html & css as possible. Where elements need to be graphical I do them in Photoshop, with transparency. It's painful, but looks like it may turn out OK. At least it allows all the text to remain in the html, thus easily editable and with good formating. One pain is doing nice curvy arrows. 'Curved paths' are one of my PS skill weaknesses.Reasoning: I'd rather learn how to do this with tools useful for other things (html,css & PS), than Latex - for which I don't expect I'd ever have any other use.At least PS has snap to guides, which isn't as useful as snap to grid, but with a bit more effort it can do the job.By the way, when you convert black and white vector illustrations to bitmap, although some gray scale is essential to preserve clean edges on diagonal lines and curves (lines and text), another thing that's important is to NOT use lossy formats like JPG. Use PNG instead, and set the colors count to a low value like 16 (two nibbles per byte.)Here's a blowup of your nice circuit, showing the kind of unrecoverable JPG speckle artifacts it contains. PNG is lossless and won't inject noise like that at all, and also will give much smaller file sizes for such drawings. Since all the white areas compress to very little file size. Simply converting that JPG to PNG won't achieve much, because the PNG encoder is forced to include all the speckles. It can't tell they are not supposed to be there. You have to go straight from vector format to PNG.Edit: Oh wait! Photoshop CS6 *does* have snap to grid. I never noticed it before, I guess because PS 5.5 that I mostly use doesn't have it. Now to try how it works.

author: Cerebus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2017, 06:04:51 pm
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on January 04, 2017, 01:26:30 amEh? Illustrator (CS5) has snap to grid, snap to guides, snap to smart guides (very useful, will find centres, points, corners, baselines and all sorts of other features automagically) and quite a lot of options for each of these. I can't think of any snap to grid feature that I've ever seen that Illustrator doesn't possess.

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2017, 07:00:45 pm
content: may I suggest Omnigraffle, it's for mac and not free, but very efficient vector based program, that let you make libraries, and snaps on a grid, and connects your elements dynamically.https://www.omnigroup.com/omnigraffle

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2017, 11:32:20 am
content: Quote from: kripton2035 on January 04, 2017, 07:00:45 pmI've been a (casual) OmniGraffle user for almost 15 years, and can indeed recommend it for flowcharts, diagrams, etc.