At the moment there are a lot of programs and online services for PCB layout. When you find an interesting electronic circuit on the Internet, you immediately want to assemble it with your own hands, but it is not always accompanied by a drawing of the printed circuit board. Once upon a time, the tracks were drawn with lacquer on foil textolite. Now radio amateurs do not draw the tracks by hand, but print them out with a laser printer – this technology is called LUT. You can take the circuit to a specialist who will do it for a certain amount of money, but it is better to learn one of the programs and do it yourself.
I have picked up some programs for tracing a printed circuit board.
Sprint-Layout
The most popular program among hams, almost all beginners started with it. It has a simple and intuitive interface, and there is a russified version. Sprint-Layout has a large database of electronic components (macros), which can be downloaded from the Internet. A huge number of training videos on YouTube, will help you learn the whole interface and learn to draw printed circuit boards. The program is conditionally – free.
Chinese online service with great opportunities. In China students create projects with this service and it is taught in some educational institutions. The main convenience lies in the fact that created projects can be edited on any computer with Internet access, it is only necessary to pass a simple registration to create an account. Easyeda has a huge base of electronic components that are constantly updated and added by users. This service has a function of automatic tracing circuit boards and simulation of electronic circuits. The interface is intuitive. After the printed circuit board is laid out on the tracks it can be ordered in this service, and industrial quality, or you can not order, and print out on a printer and do it yourself. You can also share the project with other users or create the project together.
ZenitPCB
Easy and free program to draw schematic diagrams and trace it. The disadvantage is the limitation of 800 pads. The base of elements is about 1000.
DesignSpark PCB
Powerful program with automatic PCB trace. Suitable for beginners and professionals alike.
DesignSpark PCB is a free program with built-in specialized calculators for various calculations to make the selection of components easier. On the official site you can download a library of ready-made printed circuit boards.
I use two;
Sprint-Layout program
Online service easyeda.com.
For my work, at this stage of my development, this is enough. In mastering these programs, any beginner radio amateur can cope.