Support knockout mode for text in PCBNew

[JsquaredZ]

Wishlist item to have a feature that will create "inverted"(aka negative image) text for etching text on the copper layer.

Inverted as in 'photographic negative' (etched text). Currently the copper pour is removed & normal text is added.

[Nick Østergaard (nickoe)]

I smell a duplicate issue here. You might want to serach for it on the tracker. But a problem that needs to be resolved with this is how to handle dead copper in for example an e, in regard to the DRC.

I would personally also love this feature. But if you really need it you can workaround it by using the bitmap2component to make modules that can then "connect" to the fill and give the effect.

[Nick Østergaard (nickoe)]

An example is shown here, http://www.dgkelectronics.com/how-to-add-a-logo-to-a-copper-layer-on-kicad/

[Chupacabras (juraj-lonc)]

It would be pretty nice feature. Simple to invert the text by a checkbox in the text properties. Instead of going through bitmap2component torture for every label/text.

[RyanFav (rerouter)]

To help on the "e" issue, I managed to get it to work just fine with a little creativity,

At the left end of the horizontal stroke you go up, draw the space, then go back down the same spot and continue drawing the remainder.

[PCB Wiz (1-pcb-wiz)]

#5 > To help on the "e" issue, I managed to get it to work just fine with a little creativity,

Does that mean this is now possible ?

If not, an alternative approach to handling this issue, would be to modify Gerber Plot, so you can select multiple layers, and tag one as Plot Negative. (%LPC*% negative plot is appended /done last)

Thus you place negative text on a special layer, plot both F.Cu (std positive) and then Cmts.User (append, negative)
Any gerber viewer that can handle the %LPC*% Negative will show the text.

Only user caution, is the text should be entirely within a filled zone (which is the whole point).

Google finds KiCad pcbnew already uses %LPC*% (laser plot clear) to wipe any silk text off pads.
- ie this is not adding a new command.

[Gabriel Staples (ercaguy)]

Looks like I made a duplicate? https://bugs.launchpad.net/kicad/+bug/1783249.

I'd really like the option to "invert the text by a checkbox in the text properties" too...really really. That'd be *super* useful.

[Jeff Young (jeyjey)]

See also https://bugs.launchpad.net/kicad/+bug/1783249, which presents a particular use-case of knockout text to get a solder mask behind silk text over bare copper.

[KiCad Janitor (kicad-janitor)]

KiCad bug tracker has moved to Gitlab. This report is now available here: https://gitlab.com/kicad/code/kicad/-/issues/1980