SVG is often the best visual export format for Gerber artwork. It keeps traces, pads, outlines, and silkscreen as scalable vector shapes instead of fixed pixels. That makes it useful for crisp documentation, web pages, technical diagrams, laser or mechanical reference artwork, and editing in vector tools such as Inkscape or Illustrator.
The most important limitation is that SVG is a visual representation, not a replacement for the Gerber package. It can show the board clearly, and it may preserve geometry as vector paths, but it does not carry the same CAM semantics as the original Gerber and Excellon drill files. Send the original manufacturing files to the fab. Use SVG for communication, documentation, and downstream artwork.
This site's Gerber viewer exports SVG directly from the loaded view. It renders Gerber data using tracespace-based SVG output, so it is a practical first method when you want a browser-based Gerber-to-SVG conversion without installing a desktop CAM viewer.
Quick answer
Load the Gerber ZIP or files in the viewer, choose the visible layers and colors, frame the board, then use Export → SVG. Use the SVG for scalable visual documentation and keep the original Gerbers for manufacturing.
Method 1: export SVG from this viewer
- Open the Gerber viewer in your browser.
- Drag in the Gerber ZIP from your PCB export or select the loose layer files together. Include drill files if holes are important to the drawing.
- Confirm the import before exporting. The outline should match the board shape, drills should sit in pads, and the layer names should make sense for the view you want.
- Turn layers on or off. A top-side SVG might include top copper, top solder mask, top silkscreen, drill holes, and board outline. A mechanical reference SVG might show only the outline and holes.
- Choose colors with the destination in mind. For documentation, high contrast usually matters more than realistic solder mask color.
- Frame the canvas so the board has a little margin and is not clipped. The SVG can scale later, but the exported view should still represent the intended composition.
- Open the export menu and choose Export → SVG. Save the downloaded file with a descriptive name such as
controller-top-gerber.svgorboard-outline-holes.svg. For a complete single SVG of the whole board, switch to the Top or Bottom board view before exporting so every layer is combined into one image.
After export, open the SVG in a browser first. Browsers are strict enough to reveal obvious problems and make it easy to zoom in on small features. If you plan to edit the file, then open a copy in the vector editor. Some editors may group paths, alter transforms, or rewrite SVG structure on save, so keep the exported SVG as a reference.
Why SVG works well for Gerber artwork
Gerber files describe two-dimensional shapes, and SVG is also a two-dimensional vector format. That makes SVG a natural visual export: copper pours become filled paths, tracks become vector shapes, flashes become pads, and outlines become scalable geometry. A PNG can show the same content, but it has a fixed pixel grid. Once the PNG is too small, small vias and silkscreen text become fuzzy.
SVG is especially useful for web documentation. It can be embedded in HTML, scaled for retina displays, styled in a controlled page layout, and inspected without specialized PCB software. It is also useful in vector design tools when you need a clean board silhouette, a laser engraving reference, an enclosure artwork reference, or a figure for a technical article.
The same flexibility can cause confusion. If you ungroup paths and edit an SVG in a drawing tool, you are editing artwork, not the source PCB. Moving a pad in the SVG does not move the pad in the Gerber file, and it does not update the drill file, netlist, solder mask, or board design. Use edited SVGs for diagrams and mockups, not for manufacturing corrections.
Other Gerber-to-SVG options
gerbv is a common desktop option for opening Gerber and Excellon files and exporting the displayed view to formats including SVG in versions that provide that export path. It is a good choice when you need a local open-source tool, a repeatable desktop workflow, or explicit control over the loaded layer stack.
tracespace tooling is another route. tracespace is commonly used to parse Gerber files and render PCB layer views as SVG for web-based applications. It can be a better fit for automated documentation pipelines or custom build scripts, but it requires more technical setup than opening a browser viewer and clicking export.
If you are only trying to make a quick bitmap for a README, SVG may be more than you need. In that case, use the Gerber to PNG guide instead. PNG is simpler to paste into issue trackers, emails, and documents that do not handle SVG consistently.
SVG, PNG, and PDF reference
| Format | Scalable | Editable | File size | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SVG | Yes | Yes, as vector artwork | Usually compact, but complex copper pours can grow. | Web docs, diagrams, vector editing, crisp zoom. |
| PNG | No | Only as pixels | Predictable; larger at high resolution. | README images, support tickets, simple sharing. |
| Sometimes | Limited, depending on how it was created. | Varies by vector or raster content. | Review packets, printing, markup, archival copies. |
Verify the Gerbers before exporting
Before you export SVG, use the viewer to verify the actual Gerber package. Check that the board outline is present, the drills line up with pads, and the side you are rendering is the side you intend to document. This is especially important when the SVG will be used in a public README or datasheet because readers may treat the drawing as an accurate board reference.
If the layer extensions are unfamiliar, the guide to opening Gerber files explains common names such as .gtl, .gbl, .gts, .gbo, .drl, and .gko.
FAQ
- Can this viewer export Gerber files to SVG?
- Yes. Load the Gerber files or ZIP, set the view you want, then use Export → SVG. The viewer renders Gerbers through tracespace-based SVG data.
- Is SVG still a manufacturing Gerber file?
- No. SVG is a visual vector render for humans and design tools. PCB fabrication should still use the original Gerber and Excellon drill files.
- Can I edit a Gerber SVG in Inkscape or Illustrator?
- Usually yes, but treat the result as artwork. Editing an SVG does not reliably edit the original PCB manufacturing data or preserve CAM meaning.
- Why choose SVG instead of PNG?
- SVG stays crisp when scaled, can be embedded on web pages, and can be edited as vector artwork. PNG is simpler when a bitmap image is enough.