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[on:]

Im not sure if this is out of bounds as far as general electronics goes, but my question is as follows,
 i am using sprint-layout to design a circuit which will later be produced on a pcb, however when exporting the design to gerber file it gives options to mirror a layer, as a matter a fact it pre selects mirror for the top lay of copper which makes me think that is how it SHOULD be , should i mirror it? because when i do  then obviously everything is wayyy off, as far as i understand when i am designing a board on most if not all layout designers , it is as if you are looking at the board from the top side and the board is transparent so you can see the bottom copper traces....am i right? if this is the case then mirroring any layers would be a bad move... if so why would they even put it as an option. just to mess with my head ? or maybe i am wrong.... any insight? when opening the gerber files with any gerber viewer they are all wrong because of the mirroring..which further leads me to belive no mirroring... correcto mundo?

[Reply #1 on:]

Generally NO, Do not mirror any layer - as you have already seen, it puts everything out of sync.

Export all layers as seen from the front of your board, But if you do make a mistake, most good fab houses will
notice and get back to you.

P.S. Most Batch services Don't check anything, so be carefull with them.

[Reply #2 on:]

I thought mirroring was only used when using the photoresist method for fabbing a PCB.

[Reply #3 on:]

ive done photo resist, well thats all ive done, i didnt mirror anything though, since its printed on a transparency you just flip that, so in essence you ARE mirroring.

[Reply #4 on:]

If you mirror the image then you can have the ink/toner directly on the resist, cuts down on light leakage. I Print on OHP stock, and remove the toner with acitone when its etched and tested - Only used 3 sheets in the last year or so, and I make boards a couple of times a week.

[Reply #5 on:]

yeah i was thinking of investing in a laser printer , but transparency copies at my local staples are  99c  I dont make that many either , if i could find double sided photoresist boards that would be stellar!!!!!! ??

[Reply #6 on:]

yeah i was thinking of investing in a laser printer , but transparency copies at my local staples are  99c

If you have a laser printer, why wouldn't you just print directly to a transparency?

[Reply #7 on:]

thats why i said i was " thinking " of investing on a laser printer, i have yet to do so

[Reply #8 on:]

I got an HP1100 from ebay for £10 (Picked it up locally) and its still on its same toner  .

If all you are using it for is for printing occasionally, then just buy a cheap one.

Just get a test print first ! ! !

[Reply #9 on:]

thats why i said i was " thinking " of investing on a laser printer, i have yet to do so

Ah!  You meant, if it is only 99c, why bother with getting your own printer.  Not, if you have a laser printer you'd still be spending 99c.