Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

Am looking for Image Markup Software that would be used to identify parts of circuit boards to minimize any possible confusion.

Am open to all suggestions.

Ken

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

KenO wrote:

Am looking for Image Markup Software that would be used to identify parts of circuit boards to minimize any possible confusion.

Am open to all suggestions.


I've use Paint, which is part of Windows. I've also used GIMP which
runs under Linux or Windows. Irfanview may do it as well. Just about
any graphics manipulation program will let you do it.

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

Should add that it needs to open JPGs.

Ken

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

KenO wrote:

Should add that it needs to open JPGs.


All of the programs that I listed will open multiple formats.

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

On Fri, 23 Nov 2012 13:17:03 -0500, "Michael A. Terrell"
wrote:

KenO wrote:
Am looking for Image Markup Software that would be used to identify
parts of circuit boards to minimize any possible confusion.

I've use Paint, which is part of Windows. I've also used GIMP which
runs under Linux or Windows. Irfanview may do it as well. Just about
any graphics manipulation program will let you do it.

Agreed on all three programs. For tweaking photos, I use Irfanview.
Hit "F12" for the drawing tools. Locating and sizing text is a bit
tricky, but not impossible. GIMP works and looks better, but is more
complexicated. Windoze Paint is quick and easy when I'm in a hurry.

Example of added text and arrows using Irfanview:
http://802.11junk.com/jeffl/pics/repair/slides/Behringer-PMH518M-PS.html

--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

On Fri, 23 Nov 2012 10:07:56 -0800 (PST), KenO
put finger to keyboard and composed:

Am looking for Image Markup Software that would be used to identify parts of circuit boards to minimize any possible confusion.

I'm still using PaintShop Pro 5.0 which is about as old as Windows 95.
I'm running Win98SE, though.

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

Jeff Liebermann wrote:

On Fri, 23 Nov 2012 13:17:03 -0500, "Michael A. Terrell"
wrote:

KenO wrote:
Am looking for Image Markup Software that would be used to identify
parts of circuit boards to minimize any possible confusion.

I've use Paint, which is part of Windows. I've also used GIMP which
runs under Linux or Windows. Irfanview may do it as well. Just about
any graphics manipulation program will let you do it.

Agreed on all three programs. For tweaking photos, I use Irfanview.
Hit "F12" for the drawing tools. Locating and sizing text is a bit
tricky, but not impossible. GIMP works and looks better, but is more
complexicated. Windoze Paint is quick and easy when I'm in a hurry.

Example of added text and arrows using Irfanview:
http://802.11junk.com/jeffl/pics/repair/slides/Behringer-PMH518M-PS.html


I heard that GIMP was recently updated, but I haven't tried it yet.

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

On Sat, 24 Nov 2012 06:36:35 +1100, Franc Zabkar
wrote:

On Fri, 23 Nov 2012 10:07:56 -0800 (PST), KenO
put finger to keyboard and composed:

Am looking for Image Markup Software that would be used to identify parts of circuit boards to minimize any possible confusion.

I'm still using PaintShop Pro 5.0 which is about as old as Windows 95.
I'm running Win98SE, though.

- Franc Zabkar

'Paint' (mspaint.exe) still works for me in most MS OS's.
It will open and edit JPGs, but some revs have limited save formats.

Simple line drawings from the board art are usually better base
material for circuit boart component illustration, than are
photographic images.

Rendered in any format and displayed by any software, they can usually
be generated by 'printscreen' utilities that are the epitomy of
WYSIWYG documentation art.

RL

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

KenO wrote:
Am looking for Image Markup Software that would be used to identify parts of circuit boards to minimize any possible confusion.

Am open to all suggestions.

Ken

If you use OSX then PREVIEW natively allows you to add text and draw
simple objects in jpegs and giffs.

Very quick way to add notations...

John :-#)#

--
(Please post followups or tech enquiries to the newsgroup)
John's Jukes Ltd. 2343 Main St., Vancouver, BC, Canada V5T 3C9
Call (604)872-5757 or Fax 872-2010 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games)
www.flippers.com
"Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

Everyone,

Thanks for all your suggestions and comments!

I should have mentioned am using various PCs all which are using Windows XP to 7.

Would be nice if the software was small and can be installed on a USB drive so I could install once and use on all the PCs.

Last unless really needed would like an easy to learn app or at least have tutorials so make the learning curve less steep.

Ken

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

Michael,

"I've use Paint, which is part of Windows. I've also used GIMP which runs under Linux or Windows. Irfanview may do it as well. Just about any graphics manipulation program will let you do it."

Must admit I have never used any version of Paint.

Did a quick search and found
http://windows.microsoft.com/is-IS/windows7/Using-Paint
http://fay.iniminimo.com/paint7.html

Also found other alternatives
http://fay.iniminimo.com/free_graphics.html

Do you have any examples of marking up PCBs using Paint?

Should add that I am trying to reduce the number of apps to try to those others have found useful to markup PCB photos.

Ken

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

Jeff,

"For tweaking photos, I use Irfanview. Hit "F12" for the drawing tools."

Example of added text and arrows using Irfanview:
http://802.11junk.com/jeffl/pics/rep...MH518M-PS.html

WAS VERY IMPRESSED!!! so installed the latest version of Irfanview. Tried to do what you did but I got no where.

Did a search for tutorials using "text and arrows using irfanview" but only thing got was this post.
http://www.diybanter.com/electronics...ware-pcbs.html

No "..." got About 2,410,000 results but nothing useful in 1st page.

Any tips on how you did your example?

"Windoze Paint is quick and easy when I'm in a hurry." Sounds like Paint is what I need!!! At least in the beginning.

Thanks again for your example!

Ken

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

Franc,

"I'm still using PaintShop Pro 5.0 which is about as old as Windows 95. I'm running Win98SE, though."

Do you have any examples that I can link to?

Ken

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

RL,

"'Paint' (mspaint.exe) still works for me in most MS OS's. It will open and edit JPGs, but some revs have limited save formats."

Any examples that I can link to?

Thanks

Ken

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

John,

"If you use OSX then PREVIEW natively allows you to add text and draw simple objects in jpegs and giffs. Very quick way to add notations..."

Sorry, I should have mentioned am only looking for Windows apps.

Ken

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

KenO wrote:
John,

"If you use OSX then PREVIEW natively allows you to add text and draw simple objects in jpegs and giffs. Very quick way to add notations..."

Sorry, I should have mentioned am only looking for Windows apps.

Ken

Sorry - was bragging about the OS...(ducking)

John ;-#)#

--
(Please post followups or tech enquiries to the newsgroup)
John's Jukes Ltd. 2343 Main St., Vancouver, BC, Canada V5T 3C9
Call (604)872-5757 or Fax 872-2010 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games)
www.flippers.com
"Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

John Robertson wrote:

KenO wrote:
John,

"If you use OSX then PREVIEW natively allows you to add text and draw simple objects in jpegs and giffs. Very quick way to add notations..."

Sorry, I should have mentioned am only looking for Windows apps.

Ken

Sorry - was bragging about the OS...(ducking)


You turkey! ;-)

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

KenO wrote:

Michael,

"I've use Paint, which is part of Windows. I've also used GIMP which runs under Linux or Windows. Irfanview may do it as well. Just about any graphics manipulation program will let you do it."

Must admit I have never used any version of Paint.

Did a quick search and found
http://windows.microsoft.com/is-IS/windows7/Using-Paint
http://fay.iniminimo.com/paint7.html

Also found other alternatives
http://fay.iniminimo.com/free_graphics.html

Do you have any examples of marking up PCBs using Paint?


No, but I just did a quick one for you.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/materre...in/photostream


Should add that I am trying to reduce the number of apps to try to those others have found useful to markup PCB photos.


Paint is under 'Accessories' in Windows so you don't need to install
anything, or carry a program on a stick.

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

Michael,

Looked at your example of marking up PCBs using Paint.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/materre...in/photostream

Looks Good to me!

Any tips concerning making arrows and text to add to photos? Would also like to make rectangles of different colors around a component so someone can easily tell which item I am referring to.

Thanks again for your help!

Ken

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

On Sat, 24 Nov 2012 08:59:51 -0800 (PST), KenO
wrote:

I should have mentioned am using various PCs all
which are using Windows XP to 7.

Would be nice if the software was small and can
be installed on a USB drive so I could install
once and use on all the PCs.

Look into various portable application systems:
http://portableapps.com
http://www.pendriveapps.com (Linux based will run Windows in a VM)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_application
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_portable_software
The prime directive is "Thou shalt not use the Windoze registry". Once
you get used to that idea, and learn to ignore drive letters, things
start to work.

However, you may regret running things on a USB flash drive. When I
was doing that, it was difficult to keep all the apps up to date.
Also, USB drives vary RADICALLY in performance:
http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/usb-thumb-drive-charts/benchmarks,109.html

Last unless really needed would like an easy to learn app
or at least have tutorials so make the learning curve less steep.

Gimp is not easy to learn.
Windoze Paint is trivial to learn.
Irfanview is in between. (be sure to also get the plugin collection).

I suggest Irfanview because it has other features that you're going to
need for documentation (crop, resize, color correction, line drawing,
effects, PDF support, batch processing, etc).



--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

On Sat, 24 Nov 2012 09:35:33 -0800 (PST), KenO
wrote:


"For tweaking photos, I use Irfanview. Hit "F12" for the drawing tools."

Did you hit F12? If not, hit F12.

Did you notice the arrow button? Push the arrow button. Put the
starting point of the arrow somewhere on the picture. Hold the mouse
button down and drag it to the destination. Let go of the mouse
button. You have an arrow. You can adjust the color and width at the
bottom of the drawing tools window.

Did you notice the text button in the drawing tools window? It looks
like the letter "A". Push the A button. Click the mouse where you
want the text to appear. A box should appear on the screen. Type
something into the box, and hit OK. You should have text on your JPG.

Here's another way to do text:
http://176-m235.summer.com/irfanview/text.wmv


Did a search for tutorials using "text and arrows using irfanview" but only thing got was this post.
http://www.diybanter.com/electronics...ware-pcbs.html

Try YouTube. There are literally hundreds of tutorials on Irfanview
(of radically varying quality). Also, Google for "Irfanview Tutorial"
or "Irfanview Instructions". Plenty of those to be found. The reason
your search didn't find anything for "text and arrows" is that these
are two seperate topics and it's unlikely that you'll find both in a
single document.

--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

KenO wrote:

Michael,

Looked at your example of marking up PCBs using Paint.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/materre...in/photostream

Looks Good to me!

Any tips concerning making arrows and text to add to photos? Would also like to make rectangles of different colors around a component so someone can easily tell which item I am referring to.

Thanks again for your help!


I just zoom in to a large image to make it easier to draw straight
lines. Find a sample photo or drawing and play with the program. It's
dirt simple.

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

On Sat, 24 Nov 2012 09:39:10 -0800 (PST), KenO
put finger to keyboard and composed:

"I'm still using PaintShop Pro 5.0 which is about as old as Windows 95. I'm running Win98SE, though."

Do you have any examples that I can link to?

http://www.oldapps.com/Paint_Shop_Pro.php

Version 5.0 was shareware. I don't know about the others.

In any case I would go with IrfanView. I just stick with PSP because
I'm used to it.

The following site is very useful if you're after an older version of
an application:

http://www.oldapps.com/irfanview.php
http://www.oldapps.com/gimp.php
http://www.oldapps.com/

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

Best Image Markup Software for PCBs?
 

On Nov 24, 1:42*pm, KenO wrote:
Michael,

Looked at your example of marking up PCBs using Paint.http://www.flickr.com/photos/materre...in/photostream

Looks Good to me!

Any tips concerning making arrows and text to add to photos? *Would also like to make rectangles of different colors around a component so someone can easily tell which item I am referring to.

Thanks again for your help!

Ken

I also use Paint to add text, boxes and arrows to pictures.
My only suggestion is that if it's a complicated picture then save it
often with different names. There's an undo button in paint, but it
only goes back so far. At some point you're stuck with whatever
you've done and have to reload the original file if you watn to change
something.

George H.
(I'm going to try Irfanview.)