@mtl is no longer active.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 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 git+https://github.com/svg2mod/svg2mod

If building fails make sure setuptools is up to date. pip3 install setuptools --upgrade

svg2mod -i input.svg -p 1.0

usage: svg2mod [-h] -i FILENAME [-o FILENAME] [--name NAME] [--value VALUE]
               [-f FACTOR] [-p PRECISION] [--format FORMAT] [--units UNITS]
               [-d DPI] [--center]

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
  --name NAME, --module-name NAME
                        base name of the module
  --value VALUE, --module-value VALUE
                        value of the module
  -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)
  --units UNITS         output units, if output format is legacy (decimil|mm)
  -d DPI, --dpi DPI     DPI of the SVG file (int)
  --center              Center the module to the center of the bounding box

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 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). Sometimes this will render propery in KiCad, but sometimes not.
  • Paths with filled areas within holes may not work at all. See below for a possible workaround.
• 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 according to the rules below.
• Other types of elements such as rect, arc, and circle 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.

Layers must be named (case-insensitive) according to the following rules:

Note: If you have a layer "F.Cu", all of its sub-layers will be treated as "F.Cu" regardless of their names.

Holes won't always work. One trick that might work (depending on the complexity of your artwork) is to not use any holes at all but open them up by adding a thin path to the outside of your drawing before using the boolean function to remove them from your main shape. After converting your svg file using svg2mod you can use the polygon tool in the Kicad footprint editor to close these holes. See the image below:

1. artwork with holes
2. paths added so the artwork does not have any real holes
3. the file imported in Kicad
4. polygon shape on top of the openings
5. final result