Image Import

The Image Import tool turns a bitmap image (BMP, PNG or JPG) into a Gerber or Geometry object. It has two modes: Raster, which uses the pixel values, and Tracing, which draws the outlines of the image. Use it to bring in a logo, a drawing or a scanned artwork as copper or cut paths.

Where to find it

• Menu: File > Import > Image Import.
• Keyboard: none.
• The panel opens in a tab next to Project and Properties. The tab shows the plugin name.

Quick start

1. Press Load Image and select a BMP, PNG or JPG file.
2. Check the status dot next to Load Image. A red dot means the load failed. The tooltip shows the reason.
3. Keep Object Type at Gerber for copper, or select Geometry for cut paths.
4. Keep Mode at Raster, and Type at B/W.
5. Keep Level of detail values at their defaults, or change Mask value B/W to add or remove detail.
6. Click Import Image.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Image-Import-1.png — the Image Import panel after a successful load, with the Mode and Type choices visible.

Parameters

Load

Parameter	Description	Default
Load Image	Opens a file dialog for BMP, PNG or JPG files. It checks the file and enables Import Image on success.	—
Status dot	Gray: no image. Red: the load failed. The tooltip shows the file name and the error.	Gray

Parameters

Parameter	Description	Default
Object Type (Gerber / Geometry)	The type of object to create from the image.	Gerber
DPI value	The dots per inch of the image. A loaded image uses its embedded DPI when the file has one. Range 1 to 99999.	96
Area	The smallest polygon area to keep. Smaller polygons are dropped. In mm2 or in2. Range 0 to 10000.	0.3
Mode (Raster / Tracing)	The method for the image. See the list below.	Raster
Type (B/W / Color)	Black and white, or color. See the list below.	B/W

Mode (radio values):

• Raster: Uses the mask values to choose the pixels for the result. The Level of detail frame shows.
• Tracing: Draws the outlines of the image. The Threshold, Control and tracing options show. Tracing needs the vtracer package. Install it with pip install vtracer.

Type (radio values):

• B/W: A black and white image. In Raster mode, use Mask value B/W. In Tracing mode, use Threshold.
• Color: A colored image. In Raster mode, use the three mask values R, G and B. In Tracing mode, use Colors, Precision and Gradient Step. The Threshold box is off.

Level of detail (Raster mode)

Parameter	Description	Default
Mask value B/W	Black and white images only. Range 0 to 255. 0 gives no detail. 255 gives everything.	250
Mask value R	Color images only. The mask for the red channel. Range 0 to 255.	250
Mask value G	Color images only. The mask for the green channel. Range 0 to 255.	250
Mask value B	Color images only. The mask for the blue channel. Range 0 to 255.	250

Tracing (Tracing mode)

Parameter	Description	Default
Threshold	B/W only. A pixel darker than this value is traced. Range 0 to 255.	128
Control (Presets / Options)	Chooses the way the tracing is set. Presets shows the preset list. Options shows the tracing options.	Presets
Presets (Default / Detailed / Smooth / Photo)	Fills all tracing options with a preset. See the list below.	Default
Curve (Polygon / Spline / Pixel)	How the outlines are made. See the list below.	From preset
Filter Speckle	Patches smaller than this size, in pixels, are dropped. Range 0 to 128.	From preset
Colors	Color only. Heading for the color options below.	—
Precision	Color only. The number of significant bits of each RGB channel. Range 1 to 8. Lower values merge more colors.	From preset
Gradient Step	Color only. The color difference between layers. Range 0 to 255.	From preset
Spline	Spline curve only. Heading for the spline options below.	—
Corner	Spline only. The minimum angle, in degrees, to be a corner. Range 0 to 180.	From preset
Segment Length	Spline only. The length of the curve segments. Range 3.5 to 10.0. Lower values give more segments.	From preset
Splice	Spline only. The minimum angle change, in degrees, to splice a spline. Range 0 to 180.	From preset

Presets (combo values):

• Default: Straight segments. Good for PCB artwork. Speckle 4, precision 8, gradient 16, corner 60, segment 4.0, splice 45.
• Detailed: Keeps small features and more colors. Speckle 1, gradient 8. Other values as Default.
• Smooth: Smooth curves, for logos and drawings. Curve mode Spline. Other values as Default.
• Photo: Removes noise, for photographs. Speckle 10, gradient 48, corner 180. Other values as Default.

Curve (combo values):

• Polygon: Straight segments.
• Spline: Smooth curves. The spline options become active.
• Pixel: The pixel edges, without fitting.

Buttons

Button	Description	Default
Import Image	Creates the object from the loaded image with the chosen settings. Disabled until an image loads.	Disabled
Reset Tool	Resets the parameters to the defaults listed above.	—

Advanced

• Loaded file. An image is checked on load. A file that cannot be read is refused, with the reason in the status dot tooltip.
• Embedded DPI. If the image has a DPI value, the DPI value box takes it. Change the box after loading to override it.
• Area filter. Area removes small specks. The value is in mm squared (or inch squared in an inch project). A value of 0.3 means 0.3 mm² in a mm project.
• Tracing output. Tracing creates an SVG outline first, and then the geometry. Very large images take longer.
• New object. The import creates a new object. Delete it from the Project tree to remove it.
• Tcl. There is no Tcl command for this tool.

See also

• PDF Import — import vector artwork from a PDF.
• Importing Files — the other file formats.
• Gerber Object, Geometry Object
• Preferences-Utilities
• FAQ and Troubleshooting