What schematic/PCB layout tool do you guys use?

[benjaminsantiago]

I was looking at some Eagle tutorials last night and doesn't seem to be cutting it for me. I have an art background and am pretty experienced with Illustrator. I am working on some blog posts and projects and want to include some well designed schematics (ie be able to have greater control of font/color/spacing/etc). I would like to not have to redraw everything in illustrator and am wondering what you guys use for schematic (and subsequently PCB) layout.

I am currently weighing the benefits of KiCad, fritzing and Eagle.

[infiniteneslives]

I use design spark.

here's my library filled with NES/SNES/GB goodies if you can make sense of my naming convention.

[benjaminsantiago]

Design Spark looks pretty pro. I especially like the free part. Thanks for the library link as well.

[TmEE]

I use Minimal Board Editor which can be found here : http://www.suigyodo.com/online/e/

[infiniteneslives]

Design Spark looks pretty pro. I especially like the free part. Thanks for the library link as well.

Yeah I enjoyed that the included tutorial was actually helpful in learning everything. IMO it has everything I need, and nothing I don't. I appreciate the fact that components are so easily modified/created. My suggestion to creation of a new component is just add whatever component that you can find which is most similar (usually in footprint). After you've added it to the schematic you can right click and select the edit component option, make your changes, and save it as something else. The best way I've found is to save all your personally modified/created components in your own single library. Storing a variant in the original included library causes issues when you update to new versions and stuff creating conflicting components at times. But if all your creations are in a single folder, they're easy to move to the next release.

[demir]

@benjaminsantiago: Hi, I am using the Eagle for PCB design and even in the Eagle I can draw the schematics as there are options available to draw the schematics and even I am using the Proteus for both schematic and the PCB design.

[Memblers]

Kind of an old thread, but if anyone's curious, I also use Proteus.

[mikejmoffitt]

I use Kicad. It's a turd UI but it works.