Adding Text to your PCB in KiCad

By Christian Torres

Background

Why add text to my PCB?

It is important to label your PCB. Not only is it required for your project, but it is used to help identify your board. You can label what your board is form who your board belongs to, and what project you are working on.

You can also use it to label all the various components. You will notice on your own PSoC boards that there are tons of text identify what components are on your PSoC.

Further Information

There are some standards for the text that is placed on the PCB. This tutorial does not cover those. However, the recommendation is that you should be able to label your PCB in a way that someone other than you will understand. That means you should have large & clear text. If you are curious about the standards that exist for PCBs, you may find them here.

Before Starting

For this tutorial we will be adding text to your PCB. This will cover adding text on your ground plane and adding text through silkscreen.

This tutorial is performed with the ground planes already placed. If you have not placed your ground planes yet, please follow this tutorial. You can add silkscreen text before the ground planes, however it will be easier to place and see if you already have the ground planes made. However, you will not be able to add text to the ground layers if they are not placed.

Please note: The PCB design in the tutorial is an example made for the purpose of this demonstration. Do not copy it. Your PCB design should either be your individual subsystem or team design.

Steps to add Text on the Copper Layer

  1. Identify where you would like to place text on your PCB. This includes the location and layer of your PCB. In this tutorial the text will be placed on the top layer.

  1. Select the layer you would like to place the text on. Here, the top copper layer is selected. You may also place your text on bottom layer. In this case you would select the bottom layer.

From here select “Place” tab at the top of the screen. Then select “Add Text”.

  1. Add your name and other information to the text box. Make sure to meet the requirements designated in the subsystem design assignment.

    You can edit the text size in the Width, Height, and Thickness section. This will vary based on the available space and your added text for your PCB.

  1. Now your text will be placed on the PCB. However, you must now refill the zones. This can be done by going to “edit” at the top of the KiCad program. Then you will select “Fill All Zones” You may also use the keyboard shortcut by pressing the letter “B” on your keyboard.

  1. You should now see a rubout area around your text. This will mark your text on the top copper layer.

  1. Congratulations, you have now added Text to your PCB. You should now be able to see the text in your PCB design. You can also verify it in the 3D model viewer (see image below). To view this, select “View” on the top row then select “3D Viewer”.

Steps to add Silkscreen Text:

Please Note: Silkscreen text will only show up with a solder mask. The inhouse Peralta copper boards with no solder mask will not show the silkscreen text. However, the final boards sent to be manufactured with a solder mask will show the silkscreen text

  1. Identify where you would like to place text on your PCB. This will be the location of your text and the orientation. In this case the PSoC module name will be written next to the module.

  1. Now select the silkscreen layer on the right-hand side. You will select the silkscreen layer on the side you which to place the text. In this tutorial the silkscreen text will be placed on the top silkscreen layer.

  1. Now you will be able to place text on the silkscreen layer you have selected. To do this you will select the “Place” tab at the top of the screen. Then select “Add Text”.

  1. Add the text you wish to place or change the size of the text.

  1. You should also now be able to see the silkscreen in the location you placed it at.

  1. Congratulations, you have now added silkscreen text to your PCB. You can also verify it in the 3D model viewer (see image below). To view this, select “View” on the top row then select “3D Viewer”.

Things to check in case of mistakes:

  1. Make sure your text is placed on the correct layer that you want it to be at.

  2. Make sure you refill the zones when placing text on the top layer.

  3. Make sure your text is large enough to be read for someone other than you.

  4. Make sure your text will fit on the PCB.

  5. Make sure you meet all text requirements as described in the assignment.