Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: Homebrew PCBs

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob_xyz"

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Ed Smith <w4eds@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Fellers,
>
> I have a design for an SMT board with very fine lines and spaces
>that requires a film positive. The file is now in EPS format and
>needs to be converted to Gerber code. Where can I find software to
>make this conversion, PLEASE ?? Can one of you guys do it for me ??
>

Are you sure that you want a Gerber file? Gerber files are text, not
graphics files. The text is actually a set of command codes that are
used to drive a photoplotter.

If the image were somehow converted to Gerber format, it would then
have to be re-converted from Gerber format to some sort of graphics
format.


Regards, Bob
------------------------------------
Hi Ed,
EPS is Encapsulated Post Script. It is graphics format that is very
suited to printing. Most printers, even professional printers/plotters will
accept Post Script. If they only accept Post Script and not Encapsulated
Post Script then converting to PS should not be to difficult.

Both PS and EPS are based on Post Script. The difference is that with PS the
printing device has to have the fonts installed. If it doesn't then it tries
to substitute a similar font. The problem is that most normal printers will
not have the graphic fonts for printing PCB's.

With EPS the fonts are included in the file so that the printer can't stuff
things up by substituting other fonts.

To convert from EPS to PS is simple but you need to extract the fonts from
the EPS file and install them on the printing device.

Your EPS file however does not contain the original text design information
for conversion to other graphics formats.

You need the file as it was before it was converted to EPS and then you can
convert to other graphics or text formats.

I will look to see if I can find any unusual software that can attempt a
backwards conversion from EPS to the original design information however I
doubt anything is available.

Thanks, Rob.