polygon pour differences

[vixo]

Im trying to follow an example to make a logo on a board - http://www.newelectronics.co.uk/electronics-videos/altium-design-secret-21-how-to-import-graphics-and-rf-geometries-using-dxf-files/61801/

everything is ok, except when i pour the copper it first of all will not pour unless i give it a net and run a track through it (not too much a big deal but is there a reason why it's different in the video?) but the real problem is that the copper doesn't pour *over* the logo, it only pours up to the edges of the logo, so when i explode the polygons to primitives, i just end up with a cut out - see attached

how can i make a polygon *over* an imported dxf?

[jimmeh11]

Hi vixo,

Any chance you have the 'Remove dead copper' selection in the Polygon Pour dialog ticked? If so, this won't pour any copper that isn't connected to an active net.

Jim

[ddavidebor]

Polygons behave in ways that make sense for electrical design, not graphical design.

I suggest you create your drawings with lines and arcs (better if using autocad or similar software, there are also free ones like draftsight) and then use "tools->convert" tools to create your finished shape.

Davide

[T3sl4co1l]

I do it with Regions.  A combination of convert from outline, and hand crafted outline (when convert gives shitty outlines), is tedious but gives results as good as you care to make:
https://www.seventransistorlabs.com/Images/PSPWMFC_Why.png

You can make hollow Regions by pulling in a concave section, then closing the sides in around it.  The cavity connects to the outside through two parallel (so zero-width opening) line segments.  Or by building it out of whole, touching or overlapping pieces.

The other standard method to get graphics in, is to convert the vector graphics into TTF and write a character of that font with a String.  There are free tools to convert SVG to TTF, but to get to SVG from any other source may not be trivial.  I don't think you can explode Strings to Regions or other primitives in Altium, so that's as far as you can go with that method.

Tim