Silkscreen designs4/20/2023 ![]() ![]() Last, similarly to bare copper areas, design elements can be created in bare FR4, the substrate material used for PCBs. Because this finish is close to white, we will not be using this technique for this tutorial. For this project, we will be using a HASL lead-free finish. The color of the bare copper area depends upon the surface finish chosen for manufacturing. This creates an area of bare copper on the board, a technique that is uncommon for normal PCB design work but it highly useful for artistic PCBs. Then, by copying the shape onto the tStop or bStop layer, the solder mask can be kept away from the shape. It is possible to create bare copper areas on the PCB using design elements on both the top/bottom layer and the tStop/bStop layer.īasically, a shape is created on the top or bottom layers which creates a copper area in the PCB design. ![]() This is the case with the Maker Pro robot PCB. For most PCB manufacturers, the silkscreen is white unless the solder mask is white, in which case the silkscreen is typically black. Normally the silkscreen is used to show information for positioning components, component identifiers, and other text used for assembly.įor PCB art, we can make use of the silkscreen layer to create internal design elements. ![]() The silkscreen layer is the second most common color on a typical PCB. In this project, we will use a white solder mask. Many PCB manufacturers allow different solder mask colors to be specified as part of their ordering process. The solder mask color is the default color for any area of the PCB not occupied by pads, the silkscreen layer, components, or certain other specialized layers. By making use of different layers in Eagle, we can create different colors for the different parts of the design.įor a normal PCB design, there are four colors available: It is a very different story with PCB art and PCB badges where color plays a central role in the design. Therefore, the color of the PCB, or for that matter, the general aesthetics of the board, matters very little, if at all. Usually, PCBs are embedded into some part of the enclosure so the user will never see it. Normally, colors are (more or less) inconsequential for PCB designs. One of the major skills in creating artistic PCBs is mastering techniques for creating different colors on the PCB. In order to accomplish this, we need to use a couple of different layers in Autodesk Eagle because each will be a different color in the finished PCB. If you find the color you’re using is bleeding underneath the Sculpey Tools™ Silk Screens, try Using a thicker paint or less pressure.Now that we have an outline of the Maker Pro robot PCB in the Dimension layer in Eagle, the next step is adding the internal design elements: the black outline around the outside of the design, the robotâs eyes, the small light on the antenna, and other details. Always make sure your silkscreens are clean before painting to prevent dried paint from filling up the mesh. To ensure the surface you are painting remains even, try taping down your silkscreen before working. Tips for Printing Silkscreens on Polymer Clay Will the silkscreen design cover up the underlying polymer clay, or will it allow it to show through? Busyness and complexity: It’s essential to consider the busyness of your silkscreen pattern and how its style pairs with your clay creation. ![]() Larger works, like backgrounds for other mediums, call for more expansive silkscreen designs. Wondering what constitutes a large or small project? Smaller projects include jewelry and usually call for smaller-scale silkscreen designs. The size of your finished polymer clay project: Both large and small pieces have their place in the world of polymer clay.Your project’s mood and style: Choosing a silkscreen design that matches the style and atmosphere of your polymer clay project will ensure your creation appears uniform throughout.Will it be the design itself or will the silkscreen print the space around the blueprint? Just as texture sheets and rubber stamps have “inny” and “outty” designs, silkscreen designs can be positive or negative. Positive and negative patterns: When you buy silkscreens, pay careful attention to the design aspect that will be applied to the clay.When you want to choose a Sculpey® Silk Screen design for your polymer clay project, consider the following: Polymer crafters can even use silkscreen images as the background for additional design elements and embellishments. You can then make a myriad of designs - everything from complex rolled and shaped forms to simple flat pendants - from the unbaked clay. Silkscreen stencils are an excellent way to add design elements to raw polymer clay with chalk, paint and mica powders. Choosing Silkscreen Designs for Polymer Clay ![]()
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