Import SVG graphics to PCB

[Hildo Guillardi Júnior]

It will be interesting create a new graphical type in Pcbnew (as graphical polygon, cicle, ...) to import SVG or others (vectorized) images formats for any layer and keep the resizable propriety [edit: spun out to new issue]

This will create the capability of add logos and others images to the board without convert it to components or be locked up to one PCB layer (to change it now is necessary to reedit in the library).

Even, the symbol library in PcbNew will be more versatile, not needing different sizes.

NOTE: resizable graphics is now a separate issue: https://bugs.launchpad.net/kicad/+bug/1817565

[Maciej Suminski (orsonmmz)]

This feature is partially implemented [1] in another branch. It needs to be finished and tested before merging.

1. https://github.com/jvff/kicad-source-mirror/tree/svg_import

[Hildo Guillardi Júnior (hildogjr)]

I was think the feature more like in this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc1NmWeX_yc

The object image wasn't a package on library, but really a resizable object easy to import / change. Cause some time you don't know the size of the figure that will fit in the PCB.

The idea of SVG is because is a already vectorized and resizable image.

[Maciej Suminski (orsonmmz)]

There is a branch that adds SVG import [1], but most likely needs a lot of rebasing and testing.

1. https://github.com/jvff/kicad-source-mirror/tree/svg_import

[Nick Østergaard (nickoe)]

@Orson, do you know if the branch will be rebased against master now that we have tagged 5.0.1? I would like to test this.

[Hildo Guillardi Júnior (hildogjr)]

If the SVG store need some file format modification (or add of some parameters) we have to postpone.
The Eeschema file already have a `$Bitmap` tag (not a SVG) but, so far I internally studied the PcbNew files don't.

[Maciej Suminski (orsonmmz)]

Jean-Pierre has done an excellent work rebasing the branch, but I guess it will be merged in the 6.0 development branch.

[Hildo Guillardi Júnior (hildogjr)]

Same tool should be useful at "page layout editor" and "Eeschema".

[Nick Østergaard (nickoe)]

Fwiw this has been merged and can experimentally be tested with the advanced_config.

[Hildo Guillardi Júnior (hildogjr)]

@Nick, do I have to compile by my self? (enabling some `advanced_config`)
Will it be not present at Nightly by default?

[John Beard (john-j-beard)]

Some bug admin here:

* Repurposed this bug to "import SVG" (which, IMO, will only be set to "committed" when the feature is complete and no longer requires advanced config)
* Remove "other formats". These should be specifically requested as new bugs. But I think it's better to focus on SVG and DXF as these are standard formats, widely used with mature software bases (LibreCAD, Autodesk, Inkscape and friends). Adding every vector format "just because" is probably a bad idea (and in future, should be devolved to plugins anyway).
* Spin out "reizing after import" to a new bug: this is not limited to SVG or even DXF, it's applicable for any graphical element: https://bugs.launchpad.net/kicad/+bug/1817565

[John Beard (john-j-beard)]

@Hildo you will not need to compile, you need to follow the instructions for advanced config in the "Developing/Testing" documentation: http://docs.kicad-pcb.org/doxygen/md_Documentation_development_testing.html

Please note, any features enabled though the advanced config file are EXPLICITLY unsupported, are not considered "complete" and are not recommended for production use. Issues can be filed for it, but are unlikely to be prioritised.

[KiCad Janitor (kicad-janitor)]

KiCad bug tracker has moved to Gitlab. This report is now available here: https://gitlab.com/kicad/code/kicad/-/issues/2079