Yahoo Groups archive

Homebrew PCBs

Index last updated: 2026-04-28 23:05 UTC

Thread

Laser Printer shrinks pcb size

Laser Printer shrinks pcb size

2010-04-21 by w6mikk

My old trusty HP LaserJet 5P printer  slightly shrinks the printed pcb image on paper when I printed a pcb image from a PDF file. On screen pbc measures 5.2 cm (2 inch)  on paper is 5.0. On screen measures 8.1 cm (3inch) and  7.7 cm on paper.

Does KICAD  software contain a method to compensate Laser printers so the printed image is almost identical to the image size on screen?
I have not installed KICAD but have studied a tutorial.


The printed image size differing from screen size concerns me since I will be using Toner Transfer.  For 2 by 3 inch pcbs is this shrinkage going to cause SIGNIFICANT errors when drilling holes for IC sockets? For slightly larger pcbs, is error going to be more severe?

Do other LASER PRINTER users have this same problem?
How are you compensating? Does software like Paintshop Pro X10
provide small size adjustments when printing  jpg files?

This my first post. Thanks for any help.
Dave_s

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Laser Printer shrinks pcb size

2010-04-22 by DJ Delorie

My laser printer does the same thing.  PCB (gEDA) has a place to put in 
printer calibration numbers to compensate for this, because yes, it does 
mess up large components (headers, DIPs).  Note: when calibrating, 
laminate the paper onto a PCB before measuring it, as the lamination 
also changes the size slightly.

For other packages, I suppose you could print to postscript and use 
ghostscript to turn that into a raster image, at a suitably calibrated 
DPI setting.

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Laser Printer shrinks pcb size

2010-04-22 by michael tenore

You can try running your paper through the laser printer with a document with a period (.) printed in the upper left corner, This will pre-shrink your paper! Then run it through with the toner image.

I found that you will have little problem with up to 24 pin Dip without pre shrinking.

I did a board recently that had a forty pin Dip. and It only had a minor misallignment error. I did not preskrink that paper!

regards

mike
--- On Wed, 4/21/10, w6mikk <group78@...> wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> From: w6mikk <group78@dslextreme.com>
> Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Laser Printer shrinks pcb size
> To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Wednesday, April 21, 2010, 7:54 PM
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>  
>  
> 
> 
> 
>   
> 
> 
>     
>       
>       
>       My old trusty HP LaserJet 5P printer  slightly
> shrinks the printed pcb image on paper when I printed a pcb
> image from a PDF file. On screen pbc measures 5.2 cm (2
> inch)  on paper is 5.0. On screen measures 8.1 cm (3inch)
> and  7.7 cm on paper.
> 
> 
> 
> Does KICAD  software contain a method to compensate Laser
> printers so the printed image is almost identical to the
> image size on screen?
> 
> I have not installed KICAD but have studied a tutorial.
> 
> 
> 
> The printed image size differing from screen size concerns
> me since I will be using Toner Transfer.  For 2 by 3 inch
> pcbs is this shrinkage going to cause SIGNIFICANT errors
> when drilling holes for IC sockets? For slightly larger
> pcbs, is error going to be more severe?
> 
> 
> 
> Do other LASER PRINTER users have this same problem?
> 
> How are you compensating? Does software like Paintshop Pro
> X10
> 
> provide small size adjustments when printing  jpg files?
> 
> 
> 
> This my first post. Thanks for any help.
> 
> Dave_s
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>     
>      
> 
>     
>     
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
>   
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>

Re: Laser Printer shrinks pcb size

2010-04-22 by awakephd

Hmmm ... as far as I know I have not had any shrinkage like this; I need to do some tests to see! But to answer your question, yes, KiCad does have the ability to adjust the scale. When you plot your board, there are two boxes to the right for X-Scale and Y-Scale. (Note that in KiCad, you MUST use the "Plot" command rather than the "Print" command to get usable output; the "Print" command just gives an approximation.)

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "w6mikk" <group78@...> wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
>
> My old trusty HP LaserJet 5P printer  slightly shrinks the printed pcb image on paper when I printed a pcb image from a PDF file. On screen pbc measures 5.2 cm (2 inch)  on paper is 5.0. On screen measures 8.1 cm (3inch) and  7.7 cm on paper.
> 
> Does KICAD  software contain a method to compensate Laser printers so the printed image is almost identical to the image size on screen?
> I have not installed KICAD but have studied a tutorial.
> 
> 
> The printed image size differing from screen size concerns me since I will be using Toner Transfer.  For 2 by 3 inch pcbs is this shrinkage going to cause SIGNIFICANT errors when drilling holes for IC sockets? For slightly larger pcbs, is error going to be more severe?
> 
> Do other LASER PRINTER users have this same problem?
> How are you compensating? Does software like Paintshop Pro X10
> provide small size adjustments when printing  jpg files?
> 
> This my first post. Thanks for any help.
> Dave_s
>

Re: Laser Printer shrinks pcb size

2010-04-22 by andrewmv@ymail.com

I know Eagle also provides a mechanism to rescale the printer output, though I've never had to use it.

-Andrew

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "w6mikk" <group78@...> wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
>
> My old trusty HP LaserJet 5P printer  slightly shrinks the printed pcb image on paper when I printed a pcb image from a PDF file. On screen pbc measures 5.2 cm (2 inch)  on paper is 5.0. On screen measures 8.1 cm (3inch) and  7.7 cm on paper.
> 
> Does KICAD  software contain a method to compensate Laser printers so the printed image is almost identical to the image size on screen?
> I have not installed KICAD but have studied a tutorial.
> 
> 
> The printed image size differing from screen size concerns me since I will be using Toner Transfer.  For 2 by 3 inch pcbs is this shrinkage going to cause SIGNIFICANT errors when drilling holes for IC sockets? For slightly larger pcbs, is error going to be more severe?
> 
> Do other LASER PRINTER users have this same problem?
> How are you compensating? Does software like Paintshop Pro X10
> provide small size adjustments when printing  jpg files?
> 
> This my first post. Thanks for any help.
> Dave_s
>

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Laser Printer shrinks pcb size

2010-04-22 by Leon Heller

On 22/04/2010 00:54, w6mikk wrote:
> My old trusty HP LaserJet 5P printer  slightly shrinks the printed pcb image on paper when I printed a pcb image from a PDF file. On screen pbc measures 5.2 cm (2 inch)  on paper is 5.0. On screen measures 8.1 cm (3inch) and  7.7 cm on paper.
>
> Does KICAD  software contain a method to compensate Laser printers so the printed image is almost identical to the image size on screen?
> I have not installed KICAD but have studied a tutorial.
>
>
> The printed image size differing from screen size concerns me since I will be using Toner Transfer.  For 2 by 3 inch pcbs is this shrinkage going to cause SIGNIFICANT errors when drilling holes for IC sockets? For slightly larger pcbs, is error going to be more severe?
>
> Do other LASER PRINTER users have this same problem?
> How are you compensating? Does software like Paintshop Pro X10
> provide small size adjustments when printing  jpg files?

The Easy-PC software I used to use had an adjustment for that. I'm not 
sure if the current version has it, though.

Leon
-- 
Leon Heller
G1HSM

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Laser Printer shrinks pcb size

2010-04-22 by Stefan Trethan

Target 3001 also has correction factors, seaparate ones for x and y.

ST
Show quoted textHide quoted text
On Thu, Apr 22, 2010 at 5:37 AM, Leon Heller <leon355@...> wrote:
> On 22/04/2010 00:54, w6mikk wrote:
>> My old trusty HP LaserJet 5P printer  slightly shrinks the printed pcb image on paper when I printed a pcb image from a PDF file. On screen pbc measures 5.2 cm (2 inch)  on paper is 5.0. On screen measures 8.1 cm (3inch) and  7.7 cm on paper.
>>
>> Does KICAD  software contain a method to compensate Laser printers so the printed image is almost identical to the image size on screen?
>> I have not installed KICAD but have studied a tutorial.
>>
>>
>> The printed image size differing from screen size concerns me since I will be using Toner Transfer.  For 2 by 3 inch pcbs is this shrinkage going to cause SIGNIFICANT errors when drilling holes for IC sockets? For slightly larger pcbs, is error going to be more severe?
>>
>> Do other LASER PRINTER users have this same problem?
>> How are you compensating? Does software like Paintshop Pro X10
>> provide small size adjustments when printing  jpg files?
>
> The Easy-PC software I used to use had an adjustment for that. I'm not
> sure if the current version has it, though.
>
> Leon
> --
> Leon Heller
> G1HSM
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

Re: Laser Printer shrinks pcb size

2010-04-24 by Ben L

Believe Dip Trace can rescale, never needed to use it so I could not say if it would work well for this.  I prefer photo process myself, get much better and repeatable results with photo process than I ever did with Toner Transfer.  I know some seem to find the photo process too much trouble, Myself I fine getting good toner process to be more trouble.  

Ben

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Stefan Trethan <stefan_trethan@...> wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
>
> Target 3001 also has correction factors, seaparate ones for x and y.
> 
> ST
> 
> On Thu, Apr 22, 2010 at 5:37 AM, Leon Heller <leon355@...> wrote:
> > On 22/04/2010 00:54, w6mikk wrote:
> >> My old trusty HP LaserJet 5P printer  slightly shrinks the printed pcb image on paper when I printed a pcb image from a PDF file. On screen pbc measures 5.2 cm (2 inch)  on paper is 5.0. On screen measures 8.1 cm (3inch) and  7.7 cm on paper.
> >>
> >> Does KICAD  software contain a method to compensate Laser printers so the printed image is almost identical to the image size on screen?
> >> I have not installed KICAD but have studied a tutorial.
> >>
> >>
> >> The printed image size differing from screen size concerns me since I will be using Toner Transfer.  For 2 by 3 inch pcbs is this shrinkage going to cause SIGNIFICANT errors when drilling holes for IC sockets? For slightly larger pcbs, is error going to be more severe?
> >>
> >> Do other LASER PRINTER users have this same problem?
> >> How are you compensating? Does software like Paintshop Pro X10
> >> provide small size adjustments when printing  jpg files?
> >
> > The Easy-PC software I used to use had an adjustment for that. I'm not
> > sure if the current version has it, though.
> >
> > Leon
> > --
> > Leon Heller
> > G1HSM
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Laser Printer shrinks pcb size

2010-04-24 by Piers Goodhew

I'm phenominally late to this party, but you are aware that Acrobat's default behaviour is "shrink to fit"? Turn that off and you should be in business (albeit missing some stuff at the sides if your pcb's really big, but that would be asking for trouble).

Being a snob, I don't totally trust windows for accurate printing, but between them Adobe and HP should have it all working nicely.

PG
Show quoted textHide quoted text
On 24/04/2010, at 11:18 AM, Ben L wrote:

> > On Thu, Apr 22, 2010 at 5:37 AM, Leon Heller <leon355@...> wrote:
> > > On 22/04/2010 00:54, w6mikk wrote:
> > >> My old trusty HP LaserJet 5P printer  slightly shrinks the printed pcb image on paper when I printed a pcb image from a PDF file. On screen pbc measures 5.2 cm (2 inch)  on paper is 5.0. On screen measures 8.1 cm (3inch) and  7.7 cm on paper.
> > >>

Move to quarantaine

This moves the raw source file on disk only. The archive index is not changed automatically, so you still need to run a manual refresh afterward.