To answer my own question (because it's taken a while to dawn on me) - create a Pattern editor part that defines the shape needed in TOP MASK.

This actually defines a *negative* area where TOP MASK will be excluded.

Verified working by checking the Gerbers in Gerbv.

I want to create a KEEPOUT area on a PCB - where there will be no SOLDER-MASK or COPPER, just bare PCB - and for it to have a custom shape.
The only place I can find to set a KEEPOUT area - is in the Pattern Editor - but only for drilled holes and fiducials, and those are strictly circular.

Is ...

AIUI the MacOS port of DipTrace depends on the WINE project.

On Apple Silicon I think it also depends on Rosetta 2?

I appreciate Apple's announcement of end-of-life for Rosetta 2 is still over 2 years away.

But how does this affect DipTrace?

Obviously a PCB cad system is a long-term commitment ...

Hi - attached DipTrace lib has a single pattern in it "Z-RAY Think Radio Arial MT Bold".

1. Select (either of) the "Think Radio" text.
2. Right-click and select "properties".
3. Select "Font Settings..".
4. Font selection box (top left) is blank, but should read "Arial Rounded MT"
5. Note that if ...

Hi - I'm getting a difference in behaviour between DipTrace 4.3.0.6 and 5.0.0.1

(Extra Info - this also affects an already-completed PCB design, opened in PCB Editor. Fonts appear correctly in 4.3.0.6, but changed to a default font in 5.0.0.1 - this is enough of a show-stopper for me to revert to ...

This is a schematic and pattern/footprint library I did some time ago for a client developing a product for blind and partially sighted users.

The Braille-dot footprints, and their corresponding silkscreen boxes exactly correspond to the size and spacing of standard Braille.
If the silkscreens ...

You can already create polygon PCB outlines in the pattern editor - but you don't have access to tools like the radiused corners.

(Nor can you copy a PCB outline created in PCB Layout - to store it as a pattern to use in future designs)

Having a library of board outlines would be useful to many ...

I'm now running Parallels on my Mac M2 (bought to run another Windows-only application).

And I can report that DipTrace runs well under Parallels (some slight slowness on a 328-pin/4-layer board - but still very useable).
Parallels has worked impressively well - I keep all my DipTrace design ...

Tomg wrote: 22 Jun 2023, 13:46

Thanks - Tomg - that second video on split ground planes was especially useful.
(I'm pleased to say I got it right - but perhaps more luck/intuition than deep understanding!)

On MacOS, people have noticed that turning off display of what layers they can - reduces lag.

That may also work on Windows platforms.

Other people have reported "hitting a wall" where adding just a little extra content to the PCB seems to result in a significant slowing-down.

Even just un ...