How to Convert PNG to Gerber Free, Step by Step
Need a Gerber from a PNG? Here is how to convert PNG to Gerber, what usually goes wrong, and how to get a file you can use first time.
Why convert PNG to Gerber?
A Gerber is the file a PCB factory builds from: one file per copper, mask and silkscreen layer (RS-274X), plus a drill file. Every board house in the world takes it, from JLCPCB to a local prototyper.
- Ordering PCBs.
- Checking a board before manufacture.
- Etching at home.
The catch is the PNG itself. It is pixels, so enlarging it enlarges the pixels, and no machine can follow it. That is why the conversion matters as much as the file you start with.
Where most converters let you down
Plenty of tools will happily take your PNG and give you something back. The trouble is what they give you: many need a desktop EDA install, or produce artwork that breaks the board house’s minimum line widths. You only find out later, when the file will not cut, print, import or open the way you expected.
What you actually want is board files you can see, check and send to a manufacturer. That is the standard this PNG to Gerber converter is built to.
How to convert PNG to Gerber in 3 steps
- Open the PNG to Gerber converter and drop in your PNG.
- Check the result in the preview and adjust the settings if you need to.
- Download the Gerber.
Why Veconvert is the better PNG to Gerber converter
- Read to the specification. Checked against gerbv and KiCad output.
- Real size. Everything at 1:1 in millimetres.
- No install. No EDA suite needed to view, convert or make board art.
- Nothing uploaded. An unreleased board stays on your computer.
What happens to your file
Your PNG is turned into clean copper or silkscreen artwork in the browser: dark areas become copper and the result is placed on a board outline.
The conversion runs in your browser, so the file is never uploaded: client work, statements and unreleased designs stay on your computer.
Getting the best Gerber: mistakes to avoid
- A PNG with a transparent background traces without a box round it; keep the transparency rather than flattening it.
- Keep lines at least 0.15 mm (6 mil) wide for most board houses; check yours.
- High-contrast, simple artwork gives the cleanest copper.
- Always open the files in the manufacturer’s own Gerber viewer before ordering.
What it costs
Yes, converting is free: the conversion and checking the result cost nothing, and the work runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded. The side-by-side preview on the converter pages comes with a free account. Saving the finished file is paid: $3.49 for one file ($3.99 for a technical file such as DXF, G-code, STL or embroidery) with no account needed, or included in a plan from $6.99 a month.
You see the result before you spend anything, so you only pay for a file you are happy with.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert PNG to Gerber?
Drop your PNG into the box at the top of this page and press Convert to Gerber. The conversion runs in your browser in a few seconds. Check the result, then download a Gerber.
Is it free?
Yes, converting is free: the conversion and checking the result cost nothing, and the work runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded. The side-by-side preview on the converter pages comes with a free account. Saving the finished file is paid: $3.49 for one file ($3.99 for a technical file such as DXF, G-code, STL or embroidery) with no account needed, or included in a plan from $6.99 a month.
Is my file uploaded?
The conversion runs in your browser, so the file is never uploaded: client work, statements and unreleased designs stay on your computer.