@mtl is no longer active. https://github.com/svg2mod/svg2mod is now the maintained branch.
This is a small program to convert Inkscape SVG drawings to KiCad footprint module files. It uses a fork of cjlano's python SVG parser and drawing module to interpret drawings and approximate curves using straight line segments. Module files can be output in KiCad's legacy or s-expression (i.e., pretty) formats.
Python 3
pip3 install svg2mod
svg2mod -i input.svg -p 1.0
usage: svg2mod [-h] -i FILENAME [-o FILENAME] [-c] [-pads] [-v] [-x] [-d DPI]
[-f FACTOR] [-p PRECISION] [--format FORMAT] [--name NAME]
[--units UNITS] [--value VALUE]
Convert Inkscape SVG drawings to KiCad footprint modules.
optional arguments:
-h, --help show this help message and exit
-i FILENAME, --input-file FILENAME
name of the SVG file
-o FILENAME, --output-file FILENAME
name of the module file
-c, --center Center the module to the center of the bounding box
-pads, --convert-pads
Convert any artwork on Cu layers to pads
-v, --verbose Print more verbose messages
-x, --exclude-hidden Do not export hidden layers
-d DPI, --dpi DPI DPI of the SVG file (int)
-f FACTOR, --factor FACTOR
scale paths by this factor
-p PRECISION, --precision PRECISION
smoothness for approximating curves with line segments
(float)
--format FORMAT output module file format (legacy|pretty)
--name NAME, --module-name NAME
base name of the module
--units UNITS output units, if output format is legacy (decimil|mm)
--value VALUE, --module-value VALUE
value of the module
svg2mod expects images saved in the uncompressed Inkscape SVG (i.e., not "plain SVG") format.
- Drawings should be to scale (1 mm in Inscape will be 1 mm in KiCad). Use the --factor option to resize the resulting module(s) up or down from there.
- Paths are fully supported Rect and Circles (Ellipse) are partially supported.
- A path may have an outline and a fill. (Colors will be ignored.)
- A path may have holes, defined by interior segments within the path (see included examples).
- A path with a filled area inside a hole will not work properly. You must split these apart into two seperate paths.
- Transparent fills and strokes with be ignored.
- Rect supports rotations, but not corner radii.
- Ellipses do not support rotation.
- Groups may be used. However, styles applied to groups (e.g., stroke-width) are not applied to contained drawing elements. In these cases, it may be necessary to ungroup (and perhaps regroup) the elements.
- Layers must be named to match the target in kicad. The supported layers are listed below.
- Other types of elements such as arc are not supported.
- Use Inkscape's "Path->Object To Path" and "Path->Stroke To Path" menu options to convert these elements into paths that will work.
This supports the layers listed below. They are the same in inkscape and kicad:
| KiCad layer(s) | KiCad legacy | KiCad pretty |
|---|---|---|
| F.Cu | Yes | Yes |
| B.Cu | Yes | Yes |
| F.Adhes | Yes | Yes |
| B.Adhes | Yes | Yes |
| F.Paste | Yes | Yes |
| B.Paste | Yes | Yes |
| F.SilkS | Yes | Yes |
| B.SilkS | Yes | Yes |
| F.Mask | Yes | Yes |
| B.Mask | Yes | Yes |
| Dwgs.User | Yes | Yes |
| Cmts.User | Yes | Yes |
| Eco1.User | Yes | Yes |
| Eco2.User | Yes | Yes |
| Edge.Cuts | Yes | Yes |
| F.Fab | -- | Yes |
| B.Fab | -- | Yes |
| F.CrtYd | -- | Yes |
| B.CrtYd | -- | Yes |
Note: If you have a layer "F.Cu", all of its sub-layers will be treated as "F.Cu" regardless of their names.