The basic method of transferring art to a PCB using the Paint program is simple. You print out the art and transfer it to the Printed circuit board using a heat transfer process. You need a laser printer; an ink jet printer will not work. However, you can print on transparency film, ink-jet gloss photo paper or matte finish paper. Each method has its pros and cons. Many hobbyists who make their own circuit boards have information sites. Scroll through sites like DIY PCB, and the QSL Amateur Radio Community member sites for suggestions on transferring art onto PCBs. Instructions Transparency Film 2 Load the transparency film into the laser printer so that it prints on the smooth side of the film. You may want to make a few test runs with ordinary paper marked on one side before you print with the more expensive transparency film. Print the art onto the smooth side of the transparency film. 3 Transfer the design to the PCB using a household iron set on "wool." Allow the iron to warm up first. Place the film, print side down, on the board and apply gentle but firm pressure with the iron. It takes a couple of minutes for everything to warm and the printing to adhere to the board. Do not move the iron or the transparency during this process. 4 Allow the film and the board to cool completely before you peel the film off the board. Do not rush this step. If you are not happy with the result, the board can be cleaned using steel wool and lacquer remover. Glossy Ink-jet Paper 6 Preheat the iron to the high setting. Place the paper printed side down onto the PCB and iron firmly until the toner adheres to the board. Be careful not to scorch the paper. You can apply steam at this time to start to soften the paper. 7 Soak the board and paper until the paper peels off easily. Do not rush this process. The paper may pull off in layers. If that happens, return the board to the water and soak some more. If you rub or scrape the paper to remove it, you risk scratching your art as well. Matte Photo Paper 9 Adjust the iron to a medium heat, around the "Cotton" setting. Place the printed side of the paper against the PCB and press gently on the iron until the toner melts and adheres to the PCB. You can use steam during the last part of this process to begin to soften the paper. 10 Soak the board with the paper attached until the paper loosens and can be gently peeled away. Although the process for matte and gloss finish papers are similar, matte finish paper is lighter in weight and requires less heat and less soaking time.
1 Art printed on transparency film. Use the Paint program to set the width of the art to 100 percent, the height to 100 percent and the resolution to 300 dpi. Convert the art to black and white if you are planning to etch the board.
5 Use the Paint program to set the width of the art to 100 percent, the height to 100 percent and the resolution to 300 dpi. Convert the art to black and white if you are planning to etch the board. Print onto the glossy side of the paper. When choosing glossy ink-jet paper, often the cheapest paper is the best for art transfer. This is because the inexpensive glossy film dissolves quickly making the transfer process easier.
8 Use the Paint program to set the width of the art to 100 percent, the height to 100 percent and the resolution to 300 dpi. Convert the art to black and white if you are planning to etch the board. Many types of matte finish photo paper will have one side that is more receptive to print. Read the paper instructions carefully to make sure you print on the correct side.
