PADS are shown as unfilled on Etch Gerber output file.

Do you mean that the pads are unfilled in PCB Editor after creating the artwork data, Or that the pads are unfilled when viewing the artwork generated with a viewer?

If you upload a file with a recognised picture file format it will be displayed, see the other posts on this topic.

PCB Editor allows for a lot of flexibility for creating user defined subclasses, (non-etch) layers, and combining these for output, making any assumption about what a user wanted combined on non-etch data would be a guess at best. Hence the user needs to define these. ONCE they have been defined, select all the non-etch film entries in the artwork control and right-click>Save All Checked over one of teh entries. This will write a film_setup.txt to the current directory which can be used on subsequent designs. Note that the units and decimal places are implied in the created file, not an issue if you use consistent units for all designs but you might need a couple of these files if you use different settings. Use the "Add" button in the Film Control to load the film_setup.txt file back into subsequent designs.

Do you mean that the pads are unfilled in PCB Editor after creating the artwork data

No.

Or that the pads are unfilled when viewing the artwork generated with a viewer?

Yes. Exactly. I use PCB editor to view the Gerber files. Is this correct or should we use only viewer?

PCB Editor allows for a lot of flexibility for creating user defined subclasses, (non-etch) layers, and combining these for output, making any assumption about what a user wanted combined on non-etch data would be a guess at best. Hence the user needs to define these. ONCE they have been defined, select all the non-etch film entries in the artwork control and right-click>Save All Checked over one of teh entries. This will write a film_setup.txt to the current directory which can be used on subsequent designs. Note that the units and decimal places are implied in the created file, not an issue if you use consistent units for all designs but you might need a couple of these files if you use different settings. Use the "Add" button in the Film Control to load the film_setup.txt file back into subsequent designs.

Yes. I already did that as close as what you said. Instead of creating film_setup.txt, I selected manually required layers and create the Artfile. But, I could not able to see layers individually in PCB Board editor. How & where we have to see the Gerber files individually?

 Advance thanks.

I think that you may have created a link to the picture file on your machine, rather than uploaded the file to the forum, hence it is not visible.

If you import the Artwork back into PCB Editor, File>Import>Artwork, you will have one file per Film record, like Top.art, Bottom.art and so on, for the default settings. First off, the Gerber data is "dumb", just lines and shapes, no net name, component, or rule intelligence. Also, the transparency will be enabled, so the shapes will be drawn as "patterned" shapes. IF you set the Transparency to Solid for Global and Shapes, you will see that the objects will be "filled in".

If you search the web, you will find some free Gerber viewers that can also be used to view the PCB Editor output.

I think that you may have created a link to the picture file on your machine, rather than uploaded the file to the forum, hence it is not visible.

You are correct. It was difficult for me to identify the TAB "Options". In mostly all forums, the attachment symbol provided on same tool bar. Thats why little confusion. This time I uploded the file correctly, I hope. Also, I can't able to upload 2 files. If I try to add 2nd file, previously uploaded file has only been replaced and not added new one. Any solution pl?

If you import the Artwork back into PCB Editor, File>Import>Artwork, you will have one file per Film record, like Top.art, Bottom.art and so on, for the default settings. First off, the Gerber data is "dumb", just lines and shapes, no net name, component, or rule intelligence. Also, the transparency will be enabled, so the shapes will be drawn as "patterned" shapes. IF you set the Transparency to Solid for Global and Shapes, you will see that the objects will be "filled in".

I need your in-depth help in this issue. Because, I fully halted here. I am facing much problem in understanding the procedure to create and view each layer separately. I can able to create the Artwork file. But when I view in PCB Designer Window, It shows all PADS as unfilled. Also, there are huge number of DRC errors. Full Board filled with DRC errors red symbol. I did as per your suggestion, but still unfilled PADS only shown but NOT filled.

Procedure I followed:

I did only for simple TOP (Etch) Layer only.

Manufacture -> Artwork -> Select TOP in popup window -> Added Board Line outline to the exsiting (default) Classes/Sub-Classes.

So, under TOP menu, there are 4 Classes/Sub-Classes.

1. Board Geometry/Outline

2. Etch/Top

3. Pin/Top

4. Via Class/Top

I use all default settings. Create "Apertures...". Then "Create Artwork". Artwork Created successfully.

This is the sequence I used to create Artwork file.

Viewing Gerber RS274X in PCB Designer Editor.

Case 1:

When I import the Artfile TOP.art to existing board window (i.e Place the imported Artfile Top.art next to exsiting .brd file),

File -> import -> Artwork,Top.art file shown with unfilled PADS. No DRC error there.

Case 2:

File -> New -> Blank Board named test.brd

When I import the Artfile TOP.art to test.brd,

File -> import -> Artwork,Top.art file shown with unfilled PADS. Huge number of DRC errors there.

I tried to change the Display -> Color/Visibility -> Display -> Global Transparency &  Shapes Transparency. Change to 100% to Solid.

Still unfilled PADS but not filled. But, if I use "Shape" Menu -> press "Change Shape Type" -> PADS on selected rectangle area changed to filled. But, could not able to use this option for full board.

Any suggestion pl?

Thanks

 I uploaded the image file [for Case 2: that I mentioned above] separately for your reference. Full page filled with DRC Errors. Any idea pl?

thanks