Gerber Viewer

Reference manual

Copyright

This document is Copyright © 2010-2021 by its contributors as listed below. You may distribute it and/or modify it under the terms of either the GNU General Public License (https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html), version 3 or later, or the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/), version 3.0 or later.

All trademarks within this guide belong to their legitimate owners.

Contributors

The KiCad Team.

Feedback

The KiCad project welcomes feedback, bug reports, and suggestions related to the software or its documentation. For more information on how to sumbit feedback or report an issue, please see the instructions at https://www.kicad.org/help/report-an-issue/

1. Introduction to GerbView

GerbView is a Gerber file (RS-274X format) and Excellon drill file viewer. Up to 32 files can be displayed at once.

For more information about the Gerber file format please read the Gerber File Format Specification. Details about drill file format can be found at the Excellon format description.

2. Interface

2.1. Main window

2.2. Top toolbar

delete_gerber_png

Clear all layers

load_gerber_png

Load Gerber files

gerbview_drill_file_png

Load Excellon drill files

sheetset_png

Set page size

print_button_png

zoom_redraw_png

Redraw view

zoom_in_png zoom_out_png

Zoom in or out

zoom_fit_in_page_png

Zoom to fit page

zoom_area_png

Zoom to selection

gerbview_top_layer_png

Select active layer

gerbview_top_info_png

Display info about active layer

gerbview_x2_component_png

Highlight items belonging to selected component (Gerber X2)

gerbview_x2_net_png

Highlight items belonging to selected net (Gerber X2)

gerbview_x2_attributeo_png

Highlight items with the selected attribute (Gerber X2)

gerbview_top_dcode_png

Highlight items of selected D Code on the active layer

2.3. Left toolbar

cursor_png

Select items

measurement_png

Measure between two points

grid_png

Toggle grid visibility

polar_coord_png

Toggle polar coordinates display

unit_inch_png unit_mm_png

Select inch, mils, or millimeter units

cursor_shape_png

Toggle full-screen cursor

pad_sketch_png

Display flashed items in sketch (outline) mode

track_sketch_png

Display lines in sketch (outline) mode

opt_show_polygon_png

Display polygons in sketch (outline) mode

gerbview_show_negative_objects_png

Show negative objects in ghost color

show_dcodenumber_png

Show/hide D Codes

gbr_select_mode2_png

Display layers in diff (compare) mode

contrast_mode_png

Toggle inactive layers between normal and dimmed display

layers_manager_png

Show/hide layer manager

flip_board_24

Show Gerbers as mirror image

2.4. Layers Manager

The Layers Manager controls and displays visibility of all layers. An arrow indicates the active layer, and each layer can be shown or hidden with the checkboxes.

Mouse button assignments:

Left click: select the active layer
Right click: show/hide/sort layers options
Middle click or double click (on color swatch): select the layer color

The Layers tab allows you to control the visibility and color of all loaded Gerber and drill layers. The Items tab allows you to control the color and display of the grid, D Codes, and negative objects.

3. Commands in menu bar

3.1. File menu

Export to PCB Editor is a limited capability to export Gerber files into a KiCad PCB. The final result depends on what features of the RS-274X format are used in the original Gerber files: rasterized items cannot be converted (typically negative objects), flashed items are converted to vias, lines are converted to track segments (or graphic lines for non-copper layers).

3.2. Tools menu

List DCodes shows the D Code information for all layers.
Show Source displays the Gerber file contents of the active layer in a text editor.
Measure Tool allows measuring the distance between two points.
Clear Current Layer erases the contents of the active layer.

4. Printing

To print layers, use the print_button_png icon or the File → Print menu.

Caution

Be sure items are inside the printable area. Use sheetset_png to select a suitable page format.

Note that many photoplotters support a large plottable area, much bigger than the page sizes used by most printers. Moving the entire layer set may be required.