Working with Layers

The Layout Editor uses layers to organize and isolate sets of geometry and other visual indicators. Physical layers such as signal, via, dielectric, and negative signal layers compose the circuit board’s stackup. Non-physical, conceptual layers display component layout, connectivity, etc. Physical layers must be created and added to the project, while most non-physical layers are created by default.

Layers are displayed and configured through the stackup editor. The stackup editor provides access to additional properties of the physical layers, such as material, thickness, and elevation. Geometrical information on these layers is used to generate masks for manufacturing. Stackups can be of three types:

• Laminate: Alternating signal and dielectric layers
• Multizone: Similar to laminate, but allows zones (areas) that contain a subset of all layers in the stackup
• Overlapping: Contains signal layers that can overlap vertically with other layers. Dielectric layers must be contiguous.

3D Layout offers several ways to create and configure layers:

• The Edit Layers window is the most comprehensive control.
• The Layers window has controls for layer visibility and select the active layer for a project in the Layout Editor.
• Controls on the Layout tab open the Edit Layers window and select the active layer.