Similar question was asked in Jan 2018, without answer
how to print pcb layout and net names
The black background is not good for a printed page. I have zoomed in on the area I want and taken a screen shot, but can’t find a way to avoid the black background.
Like the original poster, I want all the other colours, and I want the net names visible.
I don’t want to print the full board (eg print to pdf).
I am using 7.0.11.
I’m using v7, too…
Basically, two things you can do; Change the Theme and/or Change the Layer-Color (PCB, Text, Courtyard…etc)
Video shows example of both… Perhaps will give you some ideas to accomplish your goal…
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Thank you!
I went into Settings > PCB Editor > Colors and chose to create a new Theme because the default theme is read only.
In my new Theme, scroll nearly to the bottom of the list of colors and change the Background from Black to White, then click OK to save the new theme and it has also become the active theme.
I did go back to edit my new theme and change some of the other colors for better readability on a white background.
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I didn’t mention Changing/Adding a Preset.
Preset’s stay with the project and are thus Not too useful Unless you do it for a Project you want to use as a Template (for new Projects).
Presets basically set/take-action-on the Layers (thus, their Colors) and not the Theme…
Right-Hand side panel…
Thanks again.
Is there a way to change the color of the component pin numbers and associated net descriptions? They seem to be fixed as white, which contrasts well with the default black background, and is still visible when they appear over colored tracks, but are not visible on my white background.
If the RH side of the PCB editor looks like the below (I can’t remember what 7 looks like), click on the color sample for the F. Fab or F. Silk, or whatever layer necessary, to change color of the text.
@jmk That Appearance window only shows layers. The F. Fab and F. Silk have no effect on the pin details because the pin details are not in a layer.
As in this image, the pin numbers and net name are in white or a similar color. The Theme editor has a lot more colors listed, but I have tried changing all the white or similar colors, and the pin numbers and net names don’t change.
Sorry, you had mentioned pins not pads and I hadn’t read your original post properly.
Pad number colors cannot be changed to my knowledge.
Just a thought, but have you checked what is printed with your print preview?
I think you will find pad numbers and net names do not print and the background is white if you use the Kicad black.
To get a black background, you need to use negative plot.
Below is what is printed to paper when using the standard Kicad scheme for THT boards.
FYI… Most likely this will not Help you but, it may be useful when needed…
When I need to, for various purposes, I take a Screenshot then Invert the Color.
Usually, I ‘Invert’ it in Paintbrush or Inkscape.
Though Inkscape can do a wonderful job, it’s not as Quick as doing it in Paintbrush (or, possibly in Paint on Windows… I think Linux has a similar stock Program).
My other Graphic programs will also do it, including LibreOffice’s embedded Draw (it has a Color-Replace tool enabling the changing of a Handful of different different colors at the same time, if you know how to use it). I suspect many other’s will do it…
@BlackCoffee Thanks for the suggestion about Inkscape. I was thinking about using a separate App to remove the Black, but your invert idea is even better.
In Inkscape, I selected the whole image, then Filters > Colour > Invert… and chose ‘Invert lightness’ then Apply. This is what I got:
All good and I can just about read the net names on the pins. Its unfortunate that there is a blue cast on the background. I don’t know where it came from, but I can manage with that.
Default background color in the PCB editor is not completely black.
Below a partial screenshot from: PCB Editor / Preferences / Preferences/ PCB Editor / Colors / Background
You can set colors for around 80 different items, but the color for net names and pin numbers is not among them. When I set the color for a copper layer to a very light color, the net names become a dark color, so apparently KiCad has some sort of algorithm to create a contrasting color for this.
Thanks @paulvdh That means I can set my background to pure black (#FFFFFFFF) before taking my screenshot and inverting it.
You can also write a simple python script in Inkcape to do some specific color swapping. This will be mor einteresting if you do it enough that you can benefit from more automation.
Or write a standalone python script. The library below may help (have not used it myself though).
https://pypi.org/project/pyinkscape/
FYI…
The Precursor to Inkscape is Gimp. Gimp is still available and has simplier Color tools.
That said, I prefer using LibreOffice’s embedded Draw.
Video shows using Draw but, note that I have a Custom Mouse Cursor Size and it doesn’t play well with reporting Cursor position so, it was difficult for me to select some colors (the Blue Silk, for example)… I didn’t bother setting the threshold’s… you get the idea, though…
Nonetheless, video shows the nice ability to change multiple colors at once…
@KnockinAndrew Just to complete this, Video using GIMP… very easy!
ADDED: After changing the Color to Greyscale and Inverting, you can ‘Normalize’ to make all the Grey the same. Then or, prior, can change Color to Black… many options in Gimp… and several ways to do it… In fact, can do it using the Exposure/Contrast tool without using the Normalizing tool, shown in video