KiCad 3.0 - Making A PCB Antenna in KiCad

How to create an arbitrary shape in Inkscape, export it to BMP, import it as a KiCad library, change the layer and add connection points to hook it up to your layout.
Original thread: forum.kicad.info/t/gerber-to-...
Wikibooks for layer numbers: en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Kicad/fi...
Inkscape: www.inkscape.org/en/

[@BrendanBleker]

This could be good for a rough approximation and in some cases may even work, but I wouldn't go to market with this approach.

[@andrewrussellmalcolm]

It is actually possible now with Kicad to add copper to footprints. There a trick to it. Create a polygon on any layer (it won't let you create it on the Cu layers). Then use properties to change the layer to the Cu layer you want. You get some warnings about no DRC checks (which as far as I can see are false, DRC checking works just fine. Then you can edit the polygon just as you would a copper pour. If you need connectivity, add a pad and place it over the polygon.

[@tehwalris]

Wouldn't removing the artifact and changing the name and layer all be possible grarhicaly in the module editor where you added the pin?

[@takshjyoti]

hi.

[@SalvagedCircuitry]

Inkscape was updated and now makes the alpha channel 0 by default. This will make all your bitmaps useless as there will be a clear background and kicad will not be able to invert the image, leaving solid rectangular boxes as footprints. To fix this, change the document properties (file > Document properties). Toward the bottom of the settings page that pops up you will find a "Background" title and a "background color" box. Select the box. A background color box will open. Now change the "A" or alpha channel to 255. This will force alpha channel to white and make the program work for you in Kicad.

[@viniciusmay6580]

Hi, thanks for your patience to teach us.

[@Harikrishnankrishnan1989]

ctrl + g for group

[@RimRobotique]

i think that this approch is a little bit rough. butnice vid

[@tanvirmahmud1048]

Hey bro can U tell me How I remove solder mask from coper track in kicad???

[@myaquaponic5206]

Obviously， This antenna will not work well. The antenna need to be design based on its wave length, the velocity factor of PCB, stray capacitance, solving VSWR/ return loss/reflection loss ,antenna bandwidth etc etc etc.... I never simply putting a piece of copper and call it an antenna.

[@gayanwijethilaka9135]

your teaching tooo fast.we cant understand.try to teach slowly and step by step .