KiCad Footprint file is smaller than the embedded step file itself

Layout 3D Models
1

I downloaded the GCT USB4736-GF-A step file and footprint from mouser ( Access to this page has been denied. ).

The step file is pretty damn detailed and comes with almost 3.5MB. Because I have no clue how to make a more simple step from this detailed one, I just embedded it into the footprint as is.

But the resulting footprint file is only 690kB! That’s a fraction of the embedded step file. Is KiCad actively using some compression to reduce the file size of embedded files?

2

What is the size of the STEP file if you zip it up yourself?

You can also open the footprint in a text editor. The footprint data itself is human readable text. It probably has some metadata about how the STEP file is embedded.

3

KiCad compresses in zstd and encodes in Base64. So it’s normal.

1 Like
4

Ahh ok, so it is a lossless compression at work. Great, thanks for the quick response!