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 Help with using Pulsonix
 Manufacturing outputs
 Per-plot color profiles
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bpb

9 Posts

Posted - 19 Sep 2013 :  16:48:26  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
It is known fact, that Pulsonix allows one to produce nicely and precisely rendered PDF documents, which are perfectly suitable for various documentation purposes. The only problem, is that it is not possible to produce different plots in different color schemes without a lot of work. For example, I'm need to produce three plots of PCB design - one for assembly, one for archive copy and one for service manual. Each shall (and this is a requirement), have its own color scheme as well as have various layers exposed.

It is possible to apply required color scheme via 'Colours' dialog and subsequent 'CAM/Plots' invocation, but this work can be marked as tedious and prone to errors. Therefore, I'm suggesting a feature similar to HTML style sheets, which can be applied on a per-plot basis. In the case of Pulsonix it can be called 'Colour sheet' (but nothing prevents one to extend functionality to line styles and fonts). In the simplest incarnation, this would require optional specification of suitable .pcl file and would not affect any existing plot if file is not specified.

Edited by - bpb on 19 Sep 2013 16:49:48

steve

United Kingdom
316 Posts

Posted - 20 Sep 2013 :  11:39:18  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
We will log this into our Suggestions system for due consideration. Thank you.

Pulsonix Assistance
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jameshead

United Kingdom
125 Posts

Posted - 04 Oct 2013 :  08:22:22  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
sounds useful to me too. Currently I output a PDF in greyscale for a PCB drawing where I load a specific colours file that I've set up first, then enable the appropriete cam plot outputs, and I must not forget to change the PDF output from black and white to greyscale - and back again afterwards before I do a circuit diagram PDF output!
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bkamen

USA
49 Posts

Posted - 07 Oct 2013 :  05:27:00  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I'd agree with this.

It would be nice to have a PDF setting that allows selecting a color profile to be used when plotting/printing to printing/PDF devices.

-Ben

-Ben
-------------------------------------------
ben@benkamen.net
http://www.benjammin.net
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bpb

9 Posts

Posted - 08 Oct 2013 :  06:40:12  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by jameshead
and I must not forget to change the PDF output from black and white to greyscale - and back again afterwards before I do a circuit diagram PDF output!



Couldn't agree more. Currently, the entire "Options" area from PDF output device setup have system wide effect, which allows one easily to produce document with wrong settings. Having the ability to configure per file settings with the possibility to override them in a per plot settings would be the nice feature to have.
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feynman

Switzerland
26 Posts

Posted - 12 Sep 2023 :  08:43:11  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I just stumbled across this thread and for the record: I would welcome such a feature as well.

Pulsonix has a nice CAM/Plot- and Color-System. Literally the only thing that prevents me from producing every single document the way I need it with pressing one single button is going back and forth between PCB layout and CAM dialog selecting color files for different document types. The most prominent example being assembly drawings that need to follow a specific color convention, e. g. for un-fitted components.
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bkamen

USA
49 Posts

Posted - 12 Sep 2023 :  16:42:28  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Yea - pretty funny how long ago we were talking about this.

Would still be nice.

I have a couple color profiles I used for different PDF outputs.

one for schematic
Another one for Assembly drawings
Another for PCB

It would be nice to assign the color profile on the rows of the plot output dialog since I use > 1 for PCB stuff.

It'd also be nice since I wouldn't have to switch back and forth in the actual work being done except to check/set the color profile.



-Ben
-------------------------------------------
ben@benkamen.net
http://www.benjammin.net
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jameshead

United Kingdom
125 Posts

Posted - 12 Sep 2023 :  17:30:34  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Yes.

I have some colour files set up for normal views and a colour file for greyscale output of PCB copper layers, black and white outputs of assembly and silkscreen, plus PDF Plot settings for PDF Black & White/ PDF Greyscale/PDF Colour.

To get the best results it is necessary to select both the colour file and the CAM output using the appropriate plot output setting as items such as borders, text you want in black and white but the copper in mid-grey, and holes in dark grey.

I've gotten into the habit of changing the colour setting over before pressing the output button, then having to change it back to get back editing but having the colour file setting specified in CAM output would save time.
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