diff --git a/diylc/diylc-core/src/main/resources/update.xml b/diylc/diylc-core/src/main/resources/update.xml
index 84997ad8c..78f693609 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-core/src/main/resources/update.xml
+++ b/diylc/diylc-core/src/main/resources/update.xml
@@ -669,6 +669,10 @@
 					<changeType>IMPROVEMENT</changeType>
 					<description>A 'Solder Pad' with a plated through hole now has copper on both layers, like the real thing, and joins top and bottom copper in netlists and 'Highlight Connected Areas'; Gerber export writes it to both copper and both solder mask layers</description>
 				</org.diylc.appframework.update.Change>
+				<org.diylc.appframework.update.Change>
+					<changeType>IMPROVEMENT</changeType>
+					<description>Gerber export no longer cuts the holes of solder pads and vias out of the copper layers; the holes are defined by the drill files alone, as the Gerber specification recommends</description>
+				</org.diylc.appframework.update.Change>
 				<org.diylc.appframework.update.Change>
 					<changeType>BUG_FIX</changeType>
 					<description>Rotated labels in pasted components and building blocks were drawn in the wrong place and at the wrong angle while following the mouse, until the components were placed</description>
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/SolderPad.java b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/SolderPad.java
index 713f92c21..40ba75b2d 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/SolderPad.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/SolderPad.java
@@ -125,16 +125,16 @@ public class SolderPad extends AbstractTransparentComponent<Void>
     drawingObserver.stopDrawingSide();
     drawingObserver.stopTracking();
     drawingObserver.stopTrackingContinuityArea();
+    // the hole goes to the drill file only; cutting it out of the copper as well is advised against
+    // by the Gerber specification
     if (gerberDrawingObserver != null) {
       for (GerberLayer gerberCopperLayer : gerberCopperLayers) {
+        gerberDrawingObserver.stopGerberOutput(gerberCopperLayer);
         gerberDrawingObserver.stopGerberOutput(getMaskLayer(gerberCopperLayer));
       }
     }
     if (getHoleSize().getValue() > 0 && !HoleType.NONE.equals(getHoleType())) {
       if (gerberDrawingObserver != null) {
-        for (GerberLayer gerberCopperLayer : gerberCopperLayers) {
-          gerberDrawingObserver.setGerberNegative(gerberCopperLayer, true);
-        }
         GerberLayer holeLayer = HoleType.PTH.equals(getHoleType()) ? GerberLayer.DrillPlated : GerberLayer.DrillNonPlated;
         gerberDrawingObserver.startGerberOutput(holeLayer, GerberFunctions.COMPONENT_DRILL, false);
       }
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/Via.java b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/Via.java
index 5981267ac..01261a6e4 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/Via.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/Via.java
@@ -107,9 +107,11 @@ public class Via extends AbstractTransparentComponent<Void>
         diameter, diameter));
     drawingObserver.stopTracking();
     drawingObserver.stopTrackingContinuityArea();
+    // the hole goes to the drill file only; cutting it out of the copper as well is advised against
+    // by the Gerber specification
     if (gerberDrawingObserver != null) {
-      gerberDrawingObserver.setGerberNegative(GerberLayer.CopperTop, true);
-      gerberDrawingObserver.setGerberNegative(GerberLayer.CopperBot, true);
+      gerberDrawingObserver.stopGerberOutput(GerberLayer.CopperTop);
+      gerberDrawingObserver.stopGerberOutput(GerberLayer.CopperBot);
       gerberDrawingObserver.startGerberOutput(GerberLayer.DrillPlated, VIA_DRILL, false);
     }
     g2d.setColor(Constants.CANVAS_COLOR);
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-library/src/test/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/SolderPadGerberTest.java b/diylc/diylc-library/src/test/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/SolderPadGerberTest.java
index 859938a29..89b7361f7 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-library/src/test/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/SolderPadGerberTest.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-library/src/test/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/SolderPadGerberTest.java
@@ -21,13 +21,17 @@
 */
 package org.diylc.components.connectivity;
 
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertFalse;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
 
 import java.awt.Graphics2D;
 import java.awt.geom.Rectangle2D;
 import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
+import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
 
+import com.bancika.gerberwriter.DataLayer;
+
 import org.diylc.common.PCBLayer;
 import org.diylc.core.ComponentState;
 import org.diylc.core.Project;
@@ -75,7 +79,7 @@ public class SolderPadGerberTest {
   @Test
   public void testViaIsOnBothLayersAndTented() {
     Via via = new Via();
-    Set<GerberLayer> layers = drawGerber(via);
+    Set<GerberLayer> layers = drawGerber(via).keySet();
     assertTrue(layers.contains(GerberLayer.CopperTop));
     assertTrue(layers.contains(GerberLayer.CopperBot));
     assertTrue(layers.contains(GerberLayer.DrillPlated));
@@ -83,6 +87,24 @@ public class SolderPadGerberTest {
     assertTrue(!layers.contains(GerberLayer.SolderMaskBot));
   }
 
+  @Test
+  public void testHolesAreNotCutOutOfCopper() {
+    SolderPad pad = new SolderPad();
+    pad.setHoleType(SolderPad.HoleType.PTH);
+    assertNoCutOut(drawGerber(pad));
+    assertNoCutOut(drawGerber(new Via()));
+  }
+
+  // a cut-out is drawn with clear polarity, %LPC*%
+  private static void assertNoCutOut(Map<GerberLayer, DataLayer> layers) {
+    for (GerberLayer copperLayer : new GerberLayer[] {GerberLayer.CopperTop,
+        GerberLayer.CopperBot}) {
+      String gerber = layers.get(copperLayer).dumpGerberToString();
+      assertTrue(gerber.contains("D03*"));
+      assertFalse(gerber.contains("%LPC*%"));
+    }
+  }
+
   private static Set<GerberLayer> drawGerber(PCBLayer layer) {
     return drawGerber(layer, SolderPad.HoleType.NTPH);
   }
@@ -91,10 +113,10 @@ public class SolderPadGerberTest {
     SolderPad pad = new SolderPad();
     pad.setLayer(layer);
     pad.setHoleType(holeType);
-    return drawGerber(pad);
+    return drawGerber(pad).keySet();
   }
 
-  private static Set<GerberLayer> drawGerber(IGerberComponentCustom component) {
+  private static Map<GerberLayer, DataLayer> drawGerber(IGerberComponentCustom component) {
     BufferedImage img = new BufferedImage(100, 100, BufferedImage.TYPE_INT_ARGB);
     Graphics2D graphics = img.createGraphics();
     GerberG2DWrapper g2d =
@@ -102,6 +124,6 @@ public class SolderPadGerberTest {
     g2d.startedDrawingComponent();
     component.draw(g2d, ComponentState.NORMAL, false, new Project(), g2d, g2d);
     graphics.dispose();
-    return g2d.getLayerMap().keySet();
+    return g2d.getLayerMap();
   }
 }