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The objective of this instructable is to show you how to add custom graphics to a PCB using EAGLE Layout Editor. You might want to add a logo or your website address to an electronics PCB that you have created. I found out that the process of adding images to a PCB was not trivial or obvious. In order to save everyone some time, I have listed out the process.
This is Hans Scharler, I am a web designer at ioBridge. I wanted to touch up a few PCBs that we were prototyping for fun. As with most people just starting out with using EAGLE PCB, I learned by following the "Beginning Embedded Electronics" tutorials over at SparkFun. One of the example projects shows you how to make an FT232RL USB-to-Serial Breakout PCB. I followed the tutorials and eventually learned my way around EAGLE to layout PCBs.
For this instructable you will need an installed copy of EAGLE and a PCB Layout that you want to add some graphics to. I am using SparkFun's FT232RL USB-to-Serial Breakout PCB (EAGLE Files) for example purposes.
This is Hans Scharler, I am a web designer at ioBridge. I wanted to touch up a few PCBs that we were prototyping for fun. As with most people just starting out with using EAGLE PCB, I learned by following the "Beginning Embedded Electronics" tutorials over at SparkFun. One of the example projects shows you how to make an FT232RL USB-to-Serial Breakout PCB. I followed the tutorials and eventually learned my way around EAGLE to layout PCBs.
For this instructable you will need an installed copy of EAGLE and a PCB Layout that you want to add some graphics to. I am using SparkFun's FT232RL USB-to-Serial Breakout PCB (EAGLE Files) for example purposes.
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Signing UpStep 1Create Graphics for your PCB Layout
The hard part might be creating the graphics that you want to use on your PCB silkscreen. The bulk of my time trying to figure this out was trying to find the right combination of sizes and colors of the bitmap for my graphics. I searched around forums and websites trying to find some right answers. Hopefully it will be easier for you.
Most PCBs are small. The graphics will look much bigger on your computer screen than they will look on your PCB. Most PCB silkscreen is white. On your computer screen you want the artwork color to be black.
Create a large size bitmap (BMP) with a size of 2000x2000 at least.
Add your artwork by either pasting it in or creating it new on the canvas. Make sure the color mode is set to grayscale or monotone. If you have some existing artwork, just overlay the artwork with black. That's what I did with our logo. In EAGLE we will be only importing one color.
To gauge the appropriate size, use 175 pt font on the artwork. When this gets added to the actual silkscreen the size will be around a 1/4" high. You can experiment with the size depending on how much room your logo or artwork needs to take up vs. the size allotment on your PCB. From my experience, every 175 pt high font is about 1/4" on the printed circuit board.
Remember if it looks big on your computer screen, then you are probably doing things right so far. On my attached screenshot, I am zoomed out to 33% and it still looks big.
Save the final design as a bitmap (BMP) at 8-bits at the most.
Most PCBs are small. The graphics will look much bigger on your computer screen than they will look on your PCB. Most PCB silkscreen is white. On your computer screen you want the artwork color to be black.
Create a large size bitmap (BMP) with a size of 2000x2000 at least.
Add your artwork by either pasting it in or creating it new on the canvas. Make sure the color mode is set to grayscale or monotone. If you have some existing artwork, just overlay the artwork with black. That's what I did with our logo. In EAGLE we will be only importing one color.
To gauge the appropriate size, use 175 pt font on the artwork. When this gets added to the actual silkscreen the size will be around a 1/4" high. You can experiment with the size depending on how much room your logo or artwork needs to take up vs. the size allotment on your PCB. From my experience, every 175 pt high font is about 1/4" on the printed circuit board.
Remember if it looks big on your computer screen, then you are probably doing things right so far. On my attached screenshot, I am zoomed out to 33% and it still looks big.
Save the final design as a bitmap (BMP) at 8-bits at the most.
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/Users/gentry/koko5.bmp: Too many pixels y direction
Anzahl der Pixel in Y zu gross
My bitmap is only 160 x 120 at this point. (I first tried with a 2000 x 2000 image).
Any idea what's going on?
Thanks!
i have the same problem!!
Unfortunately it is on the top of other items on layer 21, across a mounting hole and will be beneath components when the board is populated.
It absolutely refuses to be moved (or deleted)...
I'm fairly sure I followed the instructions 'to the letter' but I am new to Eagle. As I spent almost three days routing this board, I'm hoping somebody knows a simple solution to the problem.
Thanks