Homebrew PCBs

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.

From: "Ed Smith"

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 ??

Ed Smith
w4eds@...

===================================================================
Hi,


  There is plenty of software to convert EPS to PS however there is very 
little to convert PS to Gerber.

http://swannman.wordpress.com/projects/pdf2gerb/
The above is a Perl script to convert PS to Gerber. It is free but you need 
to be able to set up a Perl script. I can help if need be.

http://www.linkcad.com/
The above package has PS to Gerber. It is free for six days but I don't know 
if the free period has the Gerber option. I costs $1000 - $2500.

That is al I could really find that may help, Rob.