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Step 15Isolate the components
You will eventually need to replace the components with their symbols, but for now, isolate them into an image of their own.
The easiest way to do this for SMD's is with rectangle and circle select tools, however you may find it better to use the quick mask and a brush tool, described previously.
Invert the selection, copy it (ctrl-c) and paste it into a new transparent layer. Save this layer as a new .png file. Save the selection to a channel (in case you stuff things up) Delete the selection from the base image.
Try to work out where the tracks went that are hidden by the components, and paint them in using the same colour as the tracks you can see. This is where a continuity tester will prove useful. Find datasheets for the components, the sample circuits may help work out what goes where. Use the guides to help you, and use the selection and bucket fill tools if you are not comfortable painting. Use the eyedropper tool with a small spread to select the colour. You may need to use a magnifying glass and the actual board to see where the tracks probably go.
Create a new black layer (since you filled the substrate with black) and place it behind the component layer. This should fill the spaces with black where the components were.
On my board, the component side also had considerable ground plane areas, which I deleted.
Optionally, use the levels technique previously described to turn the tracks into solid white. I found there were advantages and disadvantages to doing this.
The easiest way to do this for SMD's is with rectangle and circle select tools, however you may find it better to use the quick mask and a brush tool, described previously.
Invert the selection, copy it (ctrl-c) and paste it into a new transparent layer. Save this layer as a new .png file. Save the selection to a channel (in case you stuff things up) Delete the selection from the base image.
Try to work out where the tracks went that are hidden by the components, and paint them in using the same colour as the tracks you can see. This is where a continuity tester will prove useful. Find datasheets for the components, the sample circuits may help work out what goes where. Use the guides to help you, and use the selection and bucket fill tools if you are not comfortable painting. Use the eyedropper tool with a small spread to select the colour. You may need to use a magnifying glass and the actual board to see where the tracks probably go.
Create a new black layer (since you filled the substrate with black) and place it behind the component layer. This should fill the spaces with black where the components were.
On my board, the component side also had considerable ground plane areas, which I deleted.
Optionally, use the levels technique previously described to turn the tracks into solid white. I found there were advantages and disadvantages to doing this.
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