Feature: loading a background image in Pcbnew

[Holm Tiffe]

It where nice to have the possibility to load a background image in pcbnew to have the traces from scans of pcbs loaded in the backround to reroute them, possibly with the feature of generating an actual netlist and a schematic (later). A similar feature possibility exists in the simple german "Sprint Layout" program.

Regards,

Holm

[Bo Herrmannsen (bo-herrmannsen-i)]

this will sure help people keep old electronics alive

i had to fist use sprint layout to get the tracks

i had the schematic for my project in eagle

i imported the gerbers from sprintlayout in to the eco layers and traced on top of that

but it will always introduce some degree of error in placement when using more than one program

[Seppe Stas (seppestas)]

Maybe instead of adding a "background" image, this image could be loaded in it's own "layer"? This would also allow quickly switching between layers (back/front) or multiple pictures.

[Seth Hillbrand (sethh)]

Images can't go on pcbnew layers as we currently define them to be physical objects on a board (which an image isn't)

We could make an item for background images that is above the background and below the grid.

[Holm Tiffe (holm-h)]

Yes please!
I think that would fit our needs...

Regards,

Holm

[Mark T. (mindflareretro)]

Yes, agreed. This would be a great feature for reverse engineering old/retro computer PCBs and related electronics.

[Nick Østergaard (nickoe)]

You should be able to use the bitmap2component and get that graphic onto the eco layers and get a similar effect for the time being.

[Mark Jeronimus (mark-jeronimus)]

We need this. Not only for reverse engineering and archeological preservation, but also for simply drawing/estimating PCB size for incomplete mechanical drawings like these: https://evatron.com/wp-content/uploads/evatron_tech_RX2008.png)

[Maciej Suminski (orsonmmz)]

KiCad has migrated to Gitlab, this issue is available here: https://gitlab.com/kicad/code/kicad/-/issues/2054

[KiCad Janitor (kicad-janitor)]

KiCad bug tracker has moved to Gitlab. This report is now available here: https://gitlab.com/kicad/code/kicad/-/issues/2054