Feature Request: Proper Import of Polygons and Vectors from SVG, DXF and PDFs

[Amyoqzy]

This is something which is bothering me since I started working with EAGLE. There is no real comfortable way to import vector graphics into an EAGLE board layout. I will start with my feature request and add more information why this is important below.

Please add a real working import function which has this features:

• Import vector graphics from SVG, DXF or PDF.
• Import the vector graphics as closed polygon to allow filled areas for copper pours, silkscreen logos or similar.
• Import the vector graphics as wire outline for easily create custom PCB shapes or similar.
• Automatically convert bezier paths, curves and similar into the correct representation in EAGLE.
• Provide a preview of the import and if there is any problem, show a meaningful error message what went wrong or why the import is not possible.
• Automatically use the dimensions/scale embedded in the source format of the vector image if available.

Why is This Feature Important

• For many devices a custom board shape is required and EAGLE has no real tools to draw bezier paths.
• Custom board shapes usually come from another CAD application where the shape of the board can be easily exported - e.g. as DXF or similar.
• The task does not stop with the shape of the board, usually a copper pour is required in the same shape of the board. This is why an import of a custom filled polygon is required as well.
• Companies like to put logos, signs and any kind of custom graphics on the PCB. Either as silkscreen or special shaped copper or on other layers. This logos and shapes will come from designers which can easily provide the shape as PDF or SVG. Again: EAGLE lack has no real tools to draw bezier paths and design graphical elements in a meaningful way.
• A proper import of vector logos and images would end all this strange hacks how currently bitmaps are imported.

[jorge_garcia2 · Accepted solution]

Hi Amyoqzy,

I have created an enhancement request for this, and I fully agree with you. It will take some time to implement this but hopefully we can get to it sooner rather than later.

Best Regards,

[robduarte]

Yes, please! This is a failure of all EDA tools it seems. Please be the ones to make this happen.

[chipdesk]

This post about proper import of Polygons and vectors is already some months old. How is the development going?

[huayuliang]

there is a ulp for import polygon on internet, but it has some restrict , since EAGLE's ULP has not enough support for polygon.

[jorge_garcia2]

Hi kristof.mulier,

Thanks for following up. It's still going, not super high priority right now. However, there are a few high priority improvements that will directly improve this situation. Our integration with Fusion360 will bring improved DXF import and likely improve the situation with SVGs as well. PDFs are a different situation and right now those don't have priority.

Keep in mind that Autodesk are the creators of the DXF standard so at some point we will be able to import those files perfectly.

I hope this update is helpful.

Please let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[chipdesk]

Thank you @jorge_garcia2

I'm glad to hear that DXF input is on the todo list. I believe it is an important topic. Displaying logo's on a PCB is something quite common nowadays. 

Thank you very much.

Kind greetings,

Kristof

[jorge_garcia2]

Hi Kristof,

If you need to import a company logo, then right now the best solution is the import-bmp.ulp that ships with EAGLE. If you've never used it before it can be a little bit of a pain since you have to calculate the scaling factor yourself, but after you figure that out it's pretty easy to work with.

Perhaps you were already aware of this but I thought it would be good to mention it.

Please let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[greenelectronharvest]

Hi Jorge,

Could you please tell me why this topic has been marked as solved?  Has a solution been provided yet?

Many thanks,

Ryan

[jorge_garcia2]

Hello Ryan,

I did not mark this thread as solved, since only customers should do that. It seems that for the original poster, knowing that is was being worked on was enough and they probably marked it as solved because of that.

With that said the current workaround using Fusion360 can allow you to bring in SVG files and then export them as a DXF file that EAGLE can open properly. For Fusion360 you have to use the SPLINES to POLYLINES add-in to get the DXF in a format EAGLE can handle.

In the coming weeks we will be releasing a new version of EAGLE that more closely integrates with Fusion360.

Please let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[greenelectronharvest]

Thank you Jorge,

Thats good news.  Just so that I understand completely, are you saying that in the coming weeks, the new version of eagle will have an updated DXFimport ULP which will have functionality to convert the imported file into Polygon/s?

[rachaelATWH4]

---

@greenelectronharvest wrote:

Thank you Jorge,

Thats good news.  Just so that I understand completely, are you saying that in the coming weeks, the new version of eagle will have an updated DXFimport ULP which will have functionality to convert the imported file into Polygon/s?

---

No I don't think Jorge is saying the DXFImport ULP will be altered, the new feature coming is tight integration with Fusion360 for better MCAD<->ECAD transitions. See this YouTube video for an idea of what's coming:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=783b-o5IAFI

Best Regards,

Rachael

[greenelectronharvest]

Thanks Rachael,

Thats very exciting...one last question :  Can the new objects imported from Fusion360 also be imported as polygons for copper fill etc? As far as I know, one cannot convert eagle closed 'wires' into polygons inside eagle.

Thank you

[jorge_garcia2]

Hi Ryan,

Thanks for your participation on the forums. We do have a feature on the roadmap that will allow you to turn a closed contour into a polygon and vice versa. I don't have an ETA for it, but it something we want to do relatively soon.

When you export the DXF from Fusion360 using the Splines to Polylines Add in. The import-dxf-polygons ulps can handle those objects so that should be good enough until we get this done.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[greenelectronharvest]

Thank you Jorge,

That answers my question... 

[o-nishi]

Hello,

For those who can't wait for Fusion360 integrations, I added "import as polygon" feature to import-dxf.ulp and it's available on my GitHub.

Issues & Fork & Pull Requests are welcome.

https://github.com/onishy/import-dxf-polygonfills

[huayuliang]

Hi,

I have test your ulp, but it is no effect. I don't know where is wrong,  there no polygon and vertex tag generated.

[o-nishi]

Hi huayuliang,

Thanks for trying out!

Could you provide me with more debug information? Are you running the latest version of Eagle (8.3.2), and does 'File -> Import -> DXF' successfully imports your dxf file as polylines at least? Also it is very helpful if you would provide dxf file to reproduce the situation on my PC.

[huayuliang]

yes, I have import dxf file successfully with dxf import ulp provide by official.

this time, I use a short file to compare them.

original and your ulp with polyline checked.

# dxfimport generated script file.
Grid mic 1 off;
Set Wire_Bend 2;
CHANGE LAYER 21;
Change Font Vector;
Wire 1 (10000.00 10000.00) (14315.08 10977.28);
Wire 1 (14315.08 10977.28) (12616.11 13473.11);
Wire 1 (12616.11 13473.11) (11759.11 11217.85);
Wire 1 (11759.11 11217.85) (8601.73 12134.99);
Wire 1 (8601.73 12134.99) (10000.00 10000.00);
Window Fit;
# lines=5, arcs=0, circles=0, polylines=0
Grid last;

your ulp with polygon checked

# dxfimport generated script file.
Grid mic 1 off;
Set Wire_Bend 2;
CHANGE LAYER 21;
Change Font Vector;
Wire 1 (10000.00 10000.00) (14315.08 10977.28);
Wire 1 (14315.08 10977.28) (12616.11 13473.11);
Wire 1 (12616.11 13473.11) (11759.11 11217.85);
Wire 1 (11759.11 11217.85) (8601.73 12134.99);
Wire 1 (8601.73 12134.99) (10000.00 10000.00);
Window Fit;
# lines=5, arcs=0, circles=0, polylines=0
Grid last;

you can see, there is same, no differents with them.

[o-nishi]

OK, maybe your dxf uses LWPolyline. I updated the script, so could you download and try running again? (I don't have an example using LWPolyline locally, so I can't test...)