How To Generate The Gerber Files

RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY
How to Generate the Gerber Files

Introduction
Gerber files are the industry standard format for printed circuit board
(PCB) manufacturing. They provide all the information a PCB
manufacturer needs to fabricate your board, including copper
layers, solder mask, silkscreen, drill data, and more. As a PCB designer,
you’ll need to be able to generate Gerber files from your EDA
(electronic design automation) software to send your finished board
layout off for production. This comprehensive guide will walk you through
the entire process of exporting Gerber files, from understanding the
different file types to setting up your layers correctly. With the right
preparation, you’ll be able to produce the accurate Gerber files required
to turn your design into a physical reality.
The Gerber Format
Gerber files use a standardized numeric format (RS-274X) to convey PCB
layout data like images, coordinates, and commands. The files describe
each layer of the board layout separately, such as copper, silkscreen,
solder mask, drill holes, etc. By separating the data into different files, PCB
manufacturers can selectively choose which layers to image during the
fabrication process. This eliminates the need to rebuild the entire board
layout from a single massive data file.
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Some key properties of the Gerber format include:
 Vector Images – Gerber files use vectors to describe shapes like
lines, arcs, and circles that make up tracks and outlines. This makes
the format very compact compared to bitmapped images.
 Apertures – Apertures define the size and shape of the vector. They
allow features like pad diameters and track widths to be adjusted by
simply changing the aperture.
 Coordinates – Each vector endpoint is defined by X and Y
coordinates that locate features accurately. The coordinates use
metric units down to nanometer precision.
 RS-274X Language – Standardized commands are used for selecting
apertures, setting coordinates, interpolating lines/arcs, etc.
By adhering to the standardized RS-274X format, Gerber files can be
loaded directly into PCB fabrication equipment without the need for
conversion or preprocessing. This avoids errors and keeps the data intact
as it moves through the manufacturing process.
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Layer Types

A fabricated PCB is made up of a number of physical layers that are
stacked and bonded together. Gerber files are required to define the data
for each individual layer. Here are some of the most common layer types:
Copper Layers
The copper layers contain the conductive tracks, pads, and vias that make
up the circuit. There is often a top and bottom copper layer, and also inner
layers if using a multilayer board. Each copper layer has its own Gerber
file.
Solder Mask Layers
Solder mask is the protective coating that is applied over the copper to
prevent solder bridges. The solder mask layers are essentially negative

images that define the areas where solder mask should be absent (such as
over pads).
Silkscreen Layers
The silkscreen is decorative printing on the PCB. It is used for markings
like component designators, logos, board outlines, etc. Silkscreen layers
use the Gerber format to define the graphics to be printed.
Drill Files
Drill files specify the locations and sizes of holes to be drilled in the PCB.
This includes through-holes for component leads as well as non-plated
mechanical holes. Excellon is the most common drill file format.
Assembly Drawings
Assembly files define pick and place data for population of components
on the bare PCB. This aids automated assembly and is optional for basic
fabrication.
Project Setup Guidelines
Before you can generate proper Gerber files, the PCB project needs to be
set up correctly. Here are some key guidelines to follow:
Coordinate System

The coordinate system used should match the PCB manufacturer’s
specifications:
 Origin – Bottom left corner of the board
 Axes – X horizontal, Y vertical
 Units – Metric (mm)
 Rotation – No rotation
This avoids extra processing by the fabricator to align to their system.
Layer Stackup
The layer order and materials should follow the fabricator’s layer stackup
convention. A typical example is:
1. Top Silkscreen
2. Top Solder Mask
3. Top Copper
4. Inner Copper Layers…
5. Bottom Copper
6. Bottom Solder Mask
7. Bottom Silkscreen
Consult your manufacturer’s guidelines and match the sequence in your
EDA tool.

Design Rules
Set your track widths, clearances, via sizes, etc. to comply with the
fabricator’s design rules for the selected PCB technology. This ensures the
layout is manufacturable.
Net Names
Use a consistent naming convention like “GND”, “VCC”, “+5V”
for power nets. Avoid changing net names mid-trace as this can confuse
fabrication data.
Output Generation
Once the project is properly configured, generating the Gerber files is
straightforward. Here is the general process:
Cam File Generation

Your EDA tool will have an option to generate cam, photoplot, or
fabrication output files from your board layout. Select the appropriate
output profile that matches your board technology (e.g. “2 Layer FR-4”).
This will generate all required layer Gerber files along with drill, netlist and
other fabrication data.
Layer Checking
Thoroughly inspect each layer file to ensure the contents match the
source PCB layout. Check for missing traces, incorrect apertures,
misaligned layers, etc. Any errors can lead to costly fabrication mistakes.
File Naming
Give the output files clean, consistent names indicating the layer type and
order sequence:
 TopSilkscreen.gbr
 TopSolderMask.gbr
 TopCopper.gbr
 …
Avoid using spaces, special characters, and overly long names.
Compressing and Archiving

Zip/archive the complete set of Gerber files together for easier transfer.
Avoid compressing individual files as it can confuse CAM systems.
Transferring to Manufacturer
Upload the Gerber archive to the PCB manufacturer through their website
portal or send via email. Wait for the files to be checked before proceeding
with your order.
Tips for Success
Follow these tips to avoid common mistakes and ensure your Gerber files
generate accurately:

 Stay Organized – Keep your PCB layers well structured and named
consistently through the design process. Disorganization leads to
data mix ups.
 Follow Standards – Use the manufacturer’s recommended stackup,
design rules, and layer settings. Never deviate unless approved.
 Design Rule Check – Run DRC on your board layout and fix any
errors before generating output files. This catches problems early.
 Double Check Layers – Verify critically that each layer matches your
source data. Don’t rely on the CAM process blindly.
 Communicate Changes – Inform your manufacturer if you need to
revise the Gerber files after initial submission. Send the full updated
set.
 Learn from Experience – If you have fabrication issues with your
first builds, analyze the cause and improve your Gerber generation
process.
Gerber File Viewing and Verification
Since Gerber files contain crucial fabrication data, it is essential to review
them carefully for potential problems before sending them out. Here are
some tips on how to validate your Gerber files:
Use a Gerber Viewer

A Gerber viewer is specialized software that loads the standard RS-274X
files and renders the visual contents for inspection. This provides the most
realistic validation of how the manufactured PCB will turn out. Some good
free options are GC-Prevue and Gerbv.
Check Layer Alignment
When overlaying layers in a viewer, check that features line up properly
across layers. Misalignments lead to etched copper being in the wrong
place.
Inspect Apertures and Graphics
Verify apertures are sized correctly and vector graphics render sharply
without glitches. Any artifacts could indicate aperture, format, or
resolution issues.
Compare vs Source File
Overlay the Gerber layers atop your source PCB data to compare
signal-to-signal. Any discrepancies in tracks or pads will show up.
Analyze DRC Reports
Even if your source file passes DRC checks, run DRC on the Gerber files
themselves. The CAM process can sometimes introduce new errors.

View Drills & Holes
Inspect drill layers to ensure hole sizes are correct and holes align
precisely with pad stackups.
Confirm Critical Data
Double check critical identifiers like designators, component outlines,
board dimensions, and text are rendered clearly and without errors.
Thorough Gerber file inspection is the last line of defense against
expensive PCB fabrication errors. Spending extra time validating can save
you money and headaches down the road.
Converting Gerber to Drill Files
PCB
Drilling machine

While Gerber files define the layered 2D data of a PCB layout, drill files
specify the actual hole sizes and locations required to fabricate the board.
Excellon (.drl) is the standard format for drill data. Here is an overview of
how drill files are derived from Gerber:
1. Identify Hole Locations
The locations of all required holes are determined from the component
pads and vias defined in the Gerber copper layers. PCB CAM tools extract
the X/Y coordinates of every pad/via.
2. Define Hole Sizes
Each pad or via has a associated finished hole size defined during PCB
layout. These hole sizes are mapped to the extracted hole locations.
3. Optimize Hole Grouping
To optimize the drilling process, holes are grouped into “tool lists” based
on having the same drill bit size. This minimizes tool changes.
4. Generate Excellon File
The formatted Excellon file (.drl) is output containing tool definitions and
hole coordinates. The data is organized to facilitate efficient drilling.
5. Add Routing Attributes

Additional routing attributes direct the PCB drilling machine like spindle
speeds, tool change positions, and drill cut depths for partially drilled
boards.
6. Validate vs Gerber Layers
It is critical to validate the drill file against the source Gerber data to
ensure the proper hole sizes and locations transfer over as expected.
With an accurate drill file derived from the layout, the PCB manufacturer
can drill all holes to precisely match up with the layered circuit board data.
Advanced Gerber Techniques
For complex PCB projects, additional steps and advanced Gerber
techniques may be required:
SolderPaste Files
Solder paste files indicate the precise solder paste distribution required to
place and solder surface-mount components. This is often defined as a
separate layer.
Removing Explicit Zeroes

Certain CAM systems can misinterpret surplus “zero” command codes.
Stripping these out avoids problems.
Simplifying Apertures
Reducing the number of unique apertures in the files helps performance
for some fabricators. CAM tools can consolidate apertures.
Polarity Markings
For double-sided boards, adding a small “polarity mark” hole at a standard
location aids in orienting and aligning layers.
Routed Tab and Panel Design
Panelization features like tooling tabs, mouse bites, and break-off rails are
added for PCB depanelization.
Layer Alignment Markings
Fiducials that appear on multiple layers can provide visual cue points for
aligning layers during fabrication.
As you gain experience, continue exploring new Gerber techniques to
enhance your fabrication capabilities. The standard allows ample
flexibility.

Conclusion
Gerber files are integral to turning your completed PCB layout into a
physical board. By understanding the specialized data format, planning
your project correctly, thoroughly inspecting your files, and employing
advanced techniques, you can generate accurate Gerber files the first time.
With clean, error-free data, you will avoid costly delays and re-spins during
fabrication. Spending extra time up front to polish your Gerber file
creation process ultimately saves you frustration, time, and money further
down the line.
Summary of Main Points:
 Gerber format uses succinct vector data to convey PCB layout
information layer-by-layer.
 Typical layers include copper, solder mask, silkscreen, drill data.
Each must have a Gerber file generated.
 Set up your PCB project according to manufacturer’s guidelines for
flawless data output.
 Carefully inspect all layers for alignment errors or missing data
before sending files out.
 Excellon drill files are derived from copper pad/via locations and
holes sizes defined in your layout.

 Advanced techniques like solder paste layers and panelization
require additional data.
 Take time to refine your Gerber generation process and you’ll
produce fabrication-ready files the first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are Gerber files needed for PCB manufacturing?
Gerber files are the standard format that PCB fabrication equipment
understands. The files provide the precise layered data needed to image
the conductors, solder mask, markings, drill locations, etc. without errors.
Trying to fabricate directly from CAD or source layout files would be prone
to mistakes.
1. How accurate are the coordinates in Gerber files?
The Gerber format supports metric coordinates to a precision down to ten
nanometers. This allows traces, pads, and holes to be located extremely
accurately for high density PCB designs. The precision avoids rounding
errors over long distances.
1. Can you edit Gerber files?
While it is possible to make edits to Gerber files with specialized tools, it is
not recommended. The ideal workflow is modifying the source PCB layout,

then regenerating clean Gerber output. Direct Gerber edits often lead to
conflicts between layers.
1. What are the main advantages of Gerber X2 format?
Gerber X2 allows greater precision, smaller apertures, step and repeat
panelization, embedded component and net properties, and other
enhancements. However, adoption of X2 has been slow since traditional
RS-274X works well.
1. How are irregularly shaped traces defined in Gerber files?
Irregular pad/trace geometries are approximated using very short vector
segments. Smaller segment lengths increase the precision but also
increase file size. There is a tradeoff between accuracy and efficiency.
1.Gerber Files Introduction
Gerber file format is a defacto standard used by PCB
manufacturing industry. This is analogous to produce a *.pdf file after
designing a graphics or text document. Almost everyone who is involved
in PCB design either hobbyist or commercial designer may have used it. It
is actually an ASCII file format.
Gerber file format is evolved from applications where it is used to
re-create images or graphics i.e., printers and plotters industry. In the

same way it is used in electronics hardware industry to print PCB tracks,
holes, clearances and all information which is contained in a *.pcb design
file. The leading PCB CAD softwares are able to create gerber files as an
output of PCB design file. These softwares generally use RS-274-X Gerber
file format because it is newer and easy to handle data files.
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A gerber file is divided into the following four subparts:
 Configuration Parameters
 Aperture Definitions
 Drawing Commands
 X/Y Coordinates
Each file extension denotes a specific PCB layer such as:
Top Layer => *.gtl
Bottom Layer => *.gbl
Keepout Layer => *.gko
TopOverlay Layer => *.gto
BottomOverlay Layer => *.gbo etc.

2.Generating Gerbers: An example
The softwares have a feature to execute gerber output generate
command. Usually, it is a dialogue box which has enable and disable
options to include and exclude certain layers and parameters to include or
exclude from gerber output files. In RS-274-X file format one file is
produced for each one layer of PCB design file.
For instance in protel 99se PCB design software:
The gerber files generator can be launched from (PCB editor) Tools>
Generate Gerber files command.
The following CAM Options dialogue box opens:
Figure 1: Setup for Gerber output

However, every software has its own style of creating Gerbers files. They
may have small differences compared to others to execute commands.
Set of commands that how to generate Gerbers in specific software are
best explained in the respective software manual. This example is
produced to guide about the process step by step.
The dialog box in Figure 1, produces settings for location to save output
gerber files. Almost all PCB designers know to set the folder and file path
in a desktop computer.
Figure 2: Gerbers Settings Dialogue Box
The dialogue box in Figure 2, appears to make settings that what to
include in the gerber files command, if executed. The first pane makes

resolution of scan. The description below to the dialogue box is
self-explanatory and can be chosen by clicking the respective radio-box.
Higher resolution occupies more memory but have better data precision.
There are two settings: the metric (mm) system and imperial (inches)
system of units. Gerbers in both formats can be generated. However, for
data clarity and to be safe side, generate Gerbers in both mm and inches
format, in two separate folders with clearly mentioning their units type.
The next pane in this dialogue box is layers settings where different layers
can be enabled to include or exclude in the output files. Generally, it is a
good option to “enable all used layers”.
Drill drawing and mechanical layers panes make settings about drill
drawing and mechanical layers respectively.
Apertures settings is used for thickness of tracks used and advanced is
used some other settings. For producing gerber files it is a good practice
to consult with your PCB manufacturer.

Figure 3: Settings Dialogue Box for NC drill files
The NC drill files setup produces PCB holes location and drill size
information just like the gerber files i.e., location and size of drill. This also
has the same settings and parameters as in Gerber files step. Produce the
NC Drill files alongwith gerber files.
3.What Should Include In Gerber Files
In a gerber file following layers and information should be added:
1. Signal layers: All signal layers which are used in the PCB design or
those carry electrical signals should be enabled to produce its
gerber file.
2. Plane layers: Similar to signal layers all plane layers should also be
enabled to produce gerber output files. These are solid coper layers
which distribute power.
3. Keepout layer: Keepout layer is electrical boundaries of the board.
This can also be used to board cutting boundary.
4. Mechanical layers: The used mechanical layers should also be
enabled. A mechanical layer may not have any electrical
information like in signal layer or plane layers. However, they can

have some information about mechanical parameter like PCB
cutting or fixing in enclosures.
5. Overlays: The top overlay and bottom overlay which have
information of components designators and other PCB
nomenclature notes.
6. Dimensional Information: PCB Dimensions information should be
added on top overlay or mechanical or keepout layer of PCB
design file before generating gerber files.
7. Layer stackup: Before generating gerber files add layer
stackup information in any enabled mechanical layers so that
manufacturer can use information about PCB material such as base
material thickness, pre-preg thickness type etc.
8. Preferably produce time and date stamped Gerber files so that they
would be back traced for any query.
9. Recheck and verify the file types using any gerber viewer software
tool.
10. If found accurate and forward to the manufacturer.

Figure 4: Gerber files enable and disable and extensions
Figure 4 shows the enable and disable of different layers view in gerber
file setup dialogue box .
4.Summary:
The gerber file format is a defacto standard of interface between a PCB
Design engineer and manufacturer. Gerber format is RS-274-X 2D ASCII
file format. It includes all conductive, mechanical, text and keepout layers
information of a PCB design alongwith necessary notes for manufacturing.
The RS-274-X format produces one file for each layer of PCB and is
preferred by the PCB industry. It is designer’s responsibility to add layers
carefully to generate files. Any confusions and wrong data may cause an
surprised and unwanted PCB that may be garbage only.

Related Posts:
1. How to Explort Gerber Files from Kicad
2. How to Export Gerber Files from Altium
3. How to Export Gerber Files from Eagle
4. Why the Rs 274x Gerber Files Format is Unique
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RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

How to Generate the Gerber Files

(PCB) manufacturing. They provide all the information a PCB

manufacturer needs to fabricate your board, including copper

you’ll need to be able to generate Gerber files from your EDA

(electronic design automation) software to send your finished board

the entire process of exporting Gerber files, from understanding the

preparation, you’ll be able to produce the accurate Gerber files required

to turn your design into a physical reality.

The Gerber Format

Gerber files use a standardized numeric format (RS-274X) to convey PCB

each layer of the board layout separately, such as copper, silkscreen,

manufacturers can selectively choose which layers to image during the

layout from a single massive data file.

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

Some key properties of the Gerber format include:

 Vector Images – Gerber files use vectors to describe shapes like

the format very compact compared to bitmapped images.

allow features like pad diameters and track widths to be adjusted by

simply changing the aperture.

 Coordinates – Each vector endpoint is defined by X and Y

coordinates that locate features accurately. The coordinates use

metric units down to nanometer precision.

 RS-274X Language – Standardized commands are used for selecting

apertures, setting coordinates, interpolating lines/arcs, etc.

By adhering to the standardized RS-274X format, Gerber files can be

as it moves through the manufacturing process.

Request PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Quote

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

A fabricated PCB is made up of a number of physical layers that are

Solder Mask Layers

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

The silkscreen is decorative printing on the PCB. It is used for markings

like component designators, logos, board outlines, etc. Silkscreen layers

use the Gerber format to define the graphics to be printed.

This includes through-holes for component leads as well as non-plated

mechanical holes. Excellon is the most common drill file format.

Project Setup Guidelines

set up correctly. Here are some key guidelines to follow:

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

The coordinate system used should match the PCB manufacturer’s

 Origin – Bottom left corner of the board

 Axes – X horizontal, Y vertical

 Units – Metric (mm)

This avoids extra processing by the fabricator to align to their system.

convention. A typical example is:

2. Top Solder Mask

4. Inner Copper Layers…

6. Bottom Solder Mask

Consult your manufacturer’s guidelines and match the sequence in your

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

Use a consistent naming convention like “GND”, “VCC”, “+5V”

Once the project is properly configured, generating the Gerber files is

straightforward. Here is the general process:

Cam File Generation

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

Your EDA tool will have an option to generate cam, photoplot, or

other fabrication data.