Adding the text labels on the PCB board in KiCad v5

We will learn how to add the text labels on the PCB board in KiCad v5.

Tag: Project 135f Adding the text labels on the PCB board in KiCad v5. Acoptex.lt

Project resources

• Sketch: None;
• Libraries: None;
• Other attachments: KiCardProject2_2.zip

Step by Step instruction

1. Adding text fields

You can mark the pins, the names of the components on the PCB board, give a name or version number to our PCB board with text labels. These can be placed on the front silkscreen layer (“F.SilkS”) or on the back silkscreen layer (“B.SilkS”).

1.1 Adding text labels on the front silkscreen layer (“F.SilkS”)

1. Double-click on KiCad shortcut.

2. Click on PCB Layout Editor (PCBnew) button.

3. Make sure that you have selected the front silkscreen layer (“F.SilkS”) from the list of Layers in the Layers Manager. You will see a small blue triangle marker showing the layer selected. To select just click with left mouse button on the left of the colored square with layer name.

4. Go to Place -> Text or press Ctrl+Shift+T on your keyboard or click on Add text on copper layers or graphic text icon.

5. Click once with your mouse anywhere inside your PCB board limits (PCB board borders are marked with yellow polygon line). The Text Properties window pops up. Type your text in the Text field (for example, we add the version number to our PCB board – v 1.0 and position it horizontally as Orientation selected 0) and click on OK button. Move the text label to the place on your PCB board where you’d like to put it and click with the mouse again. Use Esc on your keyboard to cancel text label placement on the PCB board.

6. Let’s add the company name now. Do the same as with version number of the PCB board above, just change the text in Text field to Acoptex.com and Orientation to 90. Please note if you want to have the text label positioned in different way you need to change Orientation:

• 0 – text label at 0 degrees and set horizontally;
• 90 – text label rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise and set vertically;
• -90 – text label rotated 90 degrees clockwise and set vertically;
• -180 – text label rotated 180 degrees and set horizontally.

There are other settings available in the Text Properties window:

• Italic – text label letters will be sloped or slanted. This style is normally used to emphasize text;
• Justification (Left, Center, Right) sets the location of cursor Left from the text label, in the middle of the text label and on the right of the text label;
• Mirrored – text label will be mirrored (for example, sample ->elpmas). This setting is better to use if you want to add the text label on the back silkscreen layer (“B.SilkS”).

7. If you want to edit your text label click on Select item icon. Place the cursor over the text label and click on it with your mouse. The text label will be selected. If you press the left mouse button and hold it you can move the text label to other place; release the left mouse button and click on empty area to deselect the text label. But if you press the right mouse button you can access the menu.

If you double-click on the text label the Text Properties window pops up. You can change the text and other settings there.

1.2 Adding text labels on the back silkscreen layer (“B.SilkS”)

1. Double-click on KiCad shortcut.

2. Click on PCB Layout Editor (PCBnew) button.

3. Make sure that you have selected the back silkscreen layer (“B.SilkS”) from the list of Layers in the Layers Manager. You will see a small blue triangle marker showing the layer selected. To select just click with left mouse button on the left of the colored square with layer name.

4. Go to Place -> Text or press Ctrl+Shift+T on your keyboard or click on Add text on copper layers or graphic text icon.

5. Click once with your mouse anywhere inside your PCB board limits (PCB board borders are marked with yellow polygon line). The Text Properties window pops up. Type your text in the Text field (for example, we add the company name to our PCB board on the back – Acoptex.com and position it horizontally as Orientation selected 0) and click on OK button. Move the text label to the place on your PCB board where you’d like to put it and click with the mouse again. Use Esc on your keyboard to cancel text label placement on the PCB board. Please note that the Mirrored setting will be selected automatically.

2. Checking the 3D model

1. Go to View -> 3D viewer to see the 3D model of you PCB board.

2. You can rotate your PCB board 3D model to check the text labels on both sides.

Wrapping up

We have learnt how to add the text labels on the PCB board in KiCad v5.

If you need more information on PCB and design, check out Printed circuit board and terms used in connection with PCB design and manufacturing

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