PCB
The PCB tab combines board parameter configuration with layer management and canvas tools. This is where you define the physical properties of your board and inspect the rendered Gerber data.
Board parameters
Configure the physical properties of your PCB at the top of the sidebar:
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Size X / Size Y | Board dimensions in mm (auto-detected from outline) |
| Layers | Copper layer count: 1L, 2L, 4L, 6L, 8L, 10L, 20L |
| Base Material | Rigid, Rigid-Flex, Semiflex, Flex, or Other |
| Laminate or Material | FR4, IMS CU, IMS AL, or Other |
| Copper Final Outer Thickness | 18–140 µm (1/2–4 oz) or Other |
| Copper Final Inner Thickness | Shown only for 4+ layers (18–70 µm or Other) |
| Surface Finish | ENIG (Ni/Au), HAL (HASL), or OSP |
| Thickness | Overall PCB thickness |
| Panelization | Single PCB or Panelized PCB mode |
Soldermask, Via Cover and Legend
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Soldermask on Sides | Both, top only, bottom only, none, special, or other |
| Soldermask Color | Built-in colors, or add / rename / delete custom #rrggbb colors |
| IPC 471 Via Cover | Via protection per IPC-4761 (none through Type VII) |
| Legend on Sides | Both, top only, bottom only, none, or other |
| Legend Color | White, black, none, or other |
| Special Instructions | Shown when any Other / Special option is selected, or when notes already exist |
Soldermask sides must meet IPC SM840 Class H. Board size and layer count are auto-detected from imported Gerber data when possible. Auto-fill buttons appear next to detected values, letting you apply the detected dimensions or layer count with a single click. These parameters feed into the Pricing calculations and the Summary.
Layer management
Below the board parameters, each imported Gerber and drill file is listed with:
- Color swatch – click to change the rendering color
- Layer type dropdown – reassign the layer classification
- Visibility toggle (eye icon) – show or hide individual layers
- Group toggles – show or hide all layers in a section at once
Rendering modes
The toolbar offers two rendering modes:
Standard mode
All visible layers are composited on a Canvas 2D view with configurable colors. This is the default for inspecting individual layers.
Realistic mode
A photo-like rendering that simulates the physical PCB appearance. Realistic mode combines copper, solder mask, silkscreen, and paste layers with the configured surface finish and mask color. The All, Top, and Bot filter buttons control which side is shown.
Canvas tools
The toolbar provides these tools:
- Cursor – default selection and pan mode
- Measure – click two points to measure distance in mm. Constraint modes let you restrict measurement to Free (any direction), Horizontal, or Vertical
- Info – hover or click to inspect layer elements and coordinates
- Delete – remove individual drawing primitives from a layer
- Draw – add geometry to Gerber and Excellon layers. See Draw Tool for full details
- Crop – clip rendering to the board outline
Canvas controls
- Pan – click and drag to move the view
- Zoom – mouse wheel or +/- buttons
- Fit to view – auto-zoom to show the entire board
- Rotation – rotate the canvas view continuously (0–360 degrees)
- Grid – toggle a reference grid overlay
- Background – switch between dark and light canvas backgrounds
Lock
The Unlocked / Locked toggle prevents changes to board parameters and layer settings. Use this in team projects to avoid accidental modifications while others are reviewing the data.