DesignSpark PCB software is free, but you have to register it. It is used by Advanced Circuits PCB Artist, at least in a down-level version, but it outputs plot files for Gerber, printer, plotter, PDF, whatever, depending on the type of data. Even though the library user interface has not been redesigned, the bugs have been fixed. The PCB Artist I have is version 1.4, while the DesignSpark version is 3.0. That may be totally irrelevant. It has a 3D view, so you can see how the board is going to look after it is stuffed. 3D can be used to verify that the parts all fit where they were intended to go, or wannabes can post them as if they actually made something.
You can import Eagle CAD, AutoCAD, or Orcad files into DesignSpark, although Eagle CAD files require another few steps. The import of AutoCAD files doesn't work well, but that might be an AutoCAD problem.
If you are coming from ExpressPCB or Eagle, like I did, you have a learning curve to get past. Although nothing is the same as ExpressPCB, many things are very similar to Eagle. The library selection is different, and maybe a little clunkier, but once you figure it out is is very easy to use. Simlar to Eagle, you push a button to make a PC board from a schematic. You can position the parts inside or outside of the board outline.
Autorouting gives you the opportunity to keep or delete existing routes. You can specify square corners (default), mitered corners, or rounded corners. The minimum and maximum size of mitered corners may be set as well.
You do a little button pushing and output all layers as Gerber, pen plotter (are there any left?), Windows printer, or PDF. The output plot to Windows should go to the printer, but went to PDF, instead, however the print functions are identical, and they worked fine.
You can find DesignSpark PCB at DesignSpark.com.
