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Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2012 21:22:55 -0600
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Subject: [geda-user] Soldermask layer
From: Darrell Harmon <dlharmon AT dlharmon DOT com>
To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com
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Reply-To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com

I would like to add a soldermask layer where any object on that layer
would be output on the soldermask gerber creating an opening in the
mask on the board. Other PCB layout programs have this feature and I
find it highly useful. This could work similarly to the outline layer
where a layer named "smbot" or "smtop" would have soldermask clearance
for all objects on the layer.

As a quick and dirty test, I did this. I get gerber and postscript
output as desired, but the GUI display isn't quite right due to the
inverted mask layer and different colors.

draw.c

 /* Draw the solder mask if turned on */
  if (gui->set_layer ("componentmask", SL (MASK, TOP), 0))
    {
      DrawMask (COMPONENT_LAYER, drawn_area);
      DrawLayer (&(PCB->Data->Layer[6]), drawn_area); // need to
select layer by name, only execute this if it exists
      gui->end_layer ();
    }

Does anyone have an opinion on how this would be best done and how to
handle the GUI layer? It may be simplest to not show it on that layer.

Darrell Harmon