Cut graphics out of copper plane

Layout
1

I have a logo that I want to cut out of my ground plane, and I am not sure how I would do that. I thought about putting it on the User.Eco2 layer, and then make a custom rule, something like the followig:

(rule "clearance-to-1mm-cutout"
    (constraint clearance (min 0.8mm))
    (condition "A.existsOnLayer('User.Eco2')"))

This doesn’t seem to work, and I think that is because custom rules can do clearance between copper stuff and stuff on arbitrary layers like this though.

So the question: how would I do something like this?

2

If the logo is a closed polygon: convert it to a rule-area and set flag “keep out copper fills”.

3

You are right about this.

It’s possible to use Margin layer for this, it’s special, but it affects all copper on all layers like Edge.Cuts.

4

Satisfaction with results can depend on the quality of the image and your settings.

Some image options…
• Using DXF is straight-forward Importing
• Using a JPG, BMP, PNG…etc is doable using the Bitmap To Converter tool

example using a PNG in the Converter tool

Screen Shot 2022-11-12 at 07.31.19
Screen Shot 2022-11-12 at 07.31.191740×1464 232 KB

Results in PCB (edit to change the layer from User to F_cu

Screen Shot 2022-11-12 at 07.36.37
Screen Shot 2022-11-12 at 07.36.371438×984 58.1 KB

1 Like
5

How would one convert a closed polygon to a rule area (the logo is just an image/bitmap though)

6

I want the graphic to be a cutout in my copper plane, not for it to be on a copper layer, I know how to import an image.

7

my bad… here you go, as a starting point. Again, results depend on the image

Screen Shot 2021-02-19 at 5.20.01 PM
Screen Shot 2021-02-19 at 5.20.01 PM1392×1286 107 KB

Screen Shot 2021-02-17 at 10.16.36 AM
Screen Shot 2021-02-17 at 10.16.36 AM1910×1912 285 KB

8

Managed to do it by manually editing the footprint in a text editor.

9

That works, but as far as I understand it doesn’t survive a repour of the zone, which makes it rather fragile and easy to not notice that it is gone in a future revision before ordering. So I think I am gonna go with mf_ibfeew’s solution.

10

How would one convert a closed polygon to a rule area

select the polygon → RMB (right click) → context-menu → Create from selection → create rule area from selection. The newly created rule area needs to get the correct layer (top/bottom depending on your GND-fill) and the setting “keepout copper fills” checked.

the logo is just an image/bitmap though
this is a litte bit complicated - so you need first to convert/draw the image/bitmap into a polygon.

11

Oh, perfect, that sure is easier than editing the footprint file using a text editor (which is what I was doing) (assuming a manageable amount of polygons of course). Tnx

12

I understand…

FYI - Zone fill/unfill works the same so, whatever works best for you.
Plotting Output panel has a Zone checking checkbox…

zone_fill

13

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