PCB to Schematic - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Andbro
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2020, 05:25:28 pm
content: Hi,From a pcb, I want to make the diagram. I have print my PCB with my printer. From this picture, is there any software that can transfer the layer copper side to the components side ? Like if the PCB was transparent.Thank

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2020, 05:51:47 pm
content: No.

author: golden_labels
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2020, 05:54:27 pm
content: Keywords to search for:PCB tracingPCB reverse-engineeringThere are even companies that will do that for you, including cloning the whole design if needed.If you need an inexpensive, hobbyist solution and your PCB is simple — and I assume it is if it’s printed by you — you can do that in any graphics program. You haven’t said what operating system you are using, but for Linux you can use either Gimp (reverse-engineering) or Inkscape (reverse-engineering and producing vector output). They should also work for some other desktop/server operating systems, like FreeBSD, MacOS or Windows.If you till have Gerbers, you may use KiCAD (which also works on multiple platforms) and its gerbview tool. It has an “Export to pcbnew” option. However the results may vary and of course you are missing a lot of information, because gerber is more or less just a vector image.

author: schmitt trigger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2020, 06:01:03 pm
content: What I have done when confronted with such a problem, and I don't have the native files, what I have done I take an image of the upper layer and color it red, the bottom layer, color it green, and the silkscreen color it black.I then open up all images in Photoshop or Gimp, and attach them as, well, layers.Both programs allow you to control the transparency of each layer and thus is fairly straightforward to follow the traces in a two layer board.

author: Wimberleytech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2020, 06:16:55 pm
content: Your question is a little cryptic. Here is what I think you have:1) an image of a single sided pcb, copper side.2) you want to print this using transfer paper. You want to transfer the image from the transfer paper to a copper-clad sheet using heat transfer3) you want to etch the image you transferred.Your problem is that the result is mirror of where you started.Solution. Using graphic software (pick your favorite), take the image and flip it using the flip tool.Then perform the steps above.But...again...I am guessing about your problem.

author: TomS_
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2020, 03:22:42 pm
content: Quote from: Andbro on May 18, 2020, 05:25:28 pmI dont know of anything out of the box that will do it, but Im not exactly an encyclopaedia of software titles, but you can do it manually in a couple of steps:1. Take a picture of each side2. Flip the bottom image horizontally3. Import images as layers into some graphics software, and adjust transparency/aspect/stretch/etc to overlay and align the copper side to the component sideIt may require a bit of fiddling with various settings for each layer to get the exact result you want.