This project is a result of needing to service a domestic electronic item without being able to obtain a circuit diagram.
The process proved to be very long and painstaking, but also very rewarding. The steps presented here are not exact, and you will no doubt find your own way of working which is more effective in the case of any particular board. However, I believe the basic procedure is essentially correct for the majority of boards which are too complex to reliably hand trace. Without the need to invent the process, things should progress more quickly.
For simple boards, it is probably better to use pencil and paper to draw the board onto squared paper, replacing components with their symbols, and changing track crossing places to avoid components.
For complex boards, it is too easy to lose your place using this method. The next 'level' of complexity from a simple, drawable board, would probably be a good candidate for the tracing methods described in step 16 of this instructable, missing out all the image editing procedures, and modified accordingly.
At a higher level of complexity, as on the board shown in this project, I decided there were too many tracks for hand tracing to be reliable, and used the graphical techniques described. These methods arise partly from the photographs I took being too unevenly lit and inadequately sharp. Better photos means less work.
All the editing was done on a laptop running Linux. Windows versions are available of the main tools, Gimp, Inkscape, AutoTrace and Dia, but I don't know if a Windows version is available of the utility pstoedit, needed for an unfortunate extra workaround step. I'm sure another workaround can be found, if it isn't.
I also discovered as a result of this project that completely hidden traces can exist - in my diagram there is a transistor with it's base apparently unconnected, but I can't find a connection or through hole for it. I assume it's completely hidden in some way.
I'm pleased to say that after creating the diagram, I was able to use it to confirm the suspected faulty part.
Addendum: since writing this instructable I have discovered there are such things as 'blind vias' - where the hole only goes part-way through the pcb and is connected to an inner layer only. It would appear that the board I worked on here utilises these, as a number of components appear to be missing connections. I believe, unfortunately, that these are hidden in the SMD pads themselves, so impossible to find without de-soldering. So if you end up with an incomplete looking schematic, that could well be why. Google for 'blind pcb vias' to learn more.
Best Program To Draw Diagrams
SmartDraw circuit drawing software works with you instead of against you. Add, delete, or move elements around on the page and everything adjusts and realigns for you, automatically. Top reasons SmartDraw is the best circuit diagram maker. Scheme-it is a free online schematic drawing tool that will allow you to produce professional looking schematic diagrams, add corresponding part numbers, and share your schematic with others. Scheme-it is a free online schematic drawing tool that will allow you to produce professional looking schematic diagrams, add corresponding part. Inkscape outputs SVG images, which is a requirement: 3. It has to be able to export in SVG: the SVG is the format that was proposed by wikipedia for diagrams. It provides the best quality at the minimum space. Most schematic capture programs have the same view you took - Graphics as such (other than PDF export) are useless.