Typical Gerber file format extensions for different software packages
During the PCB layer assignment in our Auto File Verification, you will have to tell us which gerber file is which layer. This table will help you for some common packages.
Software: Eagle
File Extension
Description
cmp
Top Copper
sol
Bottom Copper
stc
Top Soldermask
sts
Bottom Soldermask
plc
Top Silkscreen
pls
Bottom Silkscreen
drd
NC Drill
Software: Orcad
File Extension
Description
top
Top Copper
bot
Bottom Copper
smt
Top Soldermask
smb
Bottom Soldermask
sst
Top Silkscreen
ssb
Bottom Silkscreen
thruhole.tap
NC Drill
Software: Protel
File Extension
Description
gtl
Top Copper
gbl
Bottom Copper
gts
Top Soldermask
gbs
Bottom Soldermask
gto
Top Silkscreen
gbo
Bottom Silkscreen
drl
NC Drill
What are Gerber Files?
Gerber is a family of file formats used by printed circuit board (PCB) industry software to describe the electrical connections of a printed circuit board (the traces, vias, pads or component footprints and planes) as well as the drilling and milling data.
There are two distinct Gerber formats: RS-274X and the obsolete RS-274-D.
RS-274X or Extended Gerber or X-Gerber is a fully fledged bi-level image description format. It is the de-facto standard image description format for the PCB industry.
RS-274X is a human readable ASCII format consisting of a sequence of commands and coordinates.
A RS-274X file contains the complete description of a PCB layer image without requiring any external files. It has all the imaging operators needed for a PCB image. Any aperture shape can be defined as well as positive and negative objects. Planes can be specified without the need to "paint" or "vector-fill" as in RS-274-D.
RS-274X is a complete, powerful and unambiguous standard to describe a PCB layer. It can be input and processed fully automatically. This makes it well suited for fast and secure data transfer and for reliable and automated workflows.
