You may be wondering why printed circuit boards come with different colors? Or you’re confused about the best type of circuit board color to choose? Well, we are here to help you.
In this article, we will reveal to you the different classification of circuit board colors. We will also talk about the most appropriate circuit board color.
What is Circuit Board Color?
To have a deep understanding of what circuit board colors are, we must be well aware that the PCB pigmentation you see isn’t the initial board’s true color. Every circuit board color is due to the solder mask’s color, which protects the circuit board’s bare copper wires.
Whatever solder mask oil or color you choose should have a great contrast with respect to the board’s overlaying copper wires, ensuring that they can be identified with ease. This colored layer offers some protection for the copper wires to prevent it from short-circuiting. Furthermore, it delivers a protective layer from possible wear and tears that come to the board.
Circuit Board Color: Why are Circuit Boards Green?
You may be wondering why printed circuit boards come with different colors? Or you’re confused about the best type of circuit board color to choose? Well, we are here to help you.
In this article, we will reveal to you the different classification of circuit board colors. We will also talk about the most appropriate circuit board color.
What is Circuit Board Color?
To have a deep understanding of what circuit board colors are, we must be well aware that the PCB pigmentation you see isn’t the initial board’s true color. Every circuit board color is due to the solder mask’s color, which protects the circuit board’s bare copper wires.
Whatever solder mask oil or color you choose should have a great contrast with respect to the board’s overlaying copper wires, ensuring that they can be identified with ease. This colored layer offers some protection for the copper wires to prevent it from short-circuiting. Furthermore, it delivers a protective layer from possible wear and tears that come to the board.
The Importance of Circuit Board Color
The major role of boards with colored coating is mainly for protection. This offers some protection for the board from any external factor, coupled with making sure that the PCB material is properly secure on the circuit board.
Furthermore, one extra factor PCB colors offer is that aesthetic factor it brings to the board. Some boards have unique colors i.e. pink, which will be lovely if this color is your choice. By this, they break the ordinary and monotonous green color of printed circuit boards.
What are the Different Types of Circuit Board Colors?
Regarding colors, this can happen in two ways. This has to do with what the designer feel and what the consumer thinks is best for them. Let us quickly consider the different PCB colors.
Blue Circuit Board
After green circuit boards, the blue circuit boards are the most popular. You can find them in many printed circuit boards. There’s a big difference between the copper wires and the circuit board color, which makes assembling and repairing easier.
Purple Circuit Board
Having your circuit board in purple isn’t really common. If you desire this color for your bare PCB, you may need to pay a fee. This depends on the manufacturer. With a purple circuit board, you have high contrast, and there will be great improvements in the overall workability.
Black Circuit Board
This circuit board color makes these boards a very complicated one. This is because, with black circuit boards, it becomes very difficult to differentiate and locate empty spaces, traces, and planes. Therefore, you will have to direct a beam of light to the board before you can inspect it.
Considering the flip side, if you are using different silkscreens, then you will be able to define the pads. Identifying the spots also becomes easy, but if they are also marked correctly.
Apple is well-known for making use of black circuit boards for manufacturing MacBook and iPhones.
White Circuit Board
Having your circuit board as white is the worst possible selection you can have for your solder mask. This is because it does not show any contrast in any way. Therefore, if black PCBs are difficult to work with, you may try using the white. Even with a light beam, its contrast is very difficult to view.
However, using silkscreen on black PCBs, you can easily create a contrast with the use of the duller colors present on the silkscreen.
Yellow Circuit Board
Working with yellow boards is very spectacular. It is still surprising that most designers don’t work with yellow solder mask color. With yellow, you get a better detail between the empty spaces, planes, and traces. Just like the green color, yellow circuit boards stand out due to its workability, ease, and efficiency.
Red Circuit Board
This color of circuit board is one professional and bold circuit board color, which designers choose. In addition, they provide a very high contrast within the traces, planes, and board’s spaces. This makes it very easy to locate any damage to the board instantly. In addition, it is important when making use of magnification during the identification of issues, which require the assistance of magnification present on the traces of the board.
Green Circuit Board
Green is known as the most widely used color for circuit boards \, and this has been the case for many years. To comprehend why this color is the favorite among other colors for many designers, we have to know why the green color in circuit boards is easy for use.
Why are Circuit Boards Green?
When you think about circuit boards, the first ever color that comes to your mind is green. Why is green the most preferred color for circuit boards for a long time now?
Materials
This is the first answer possible. Glass epoxy has always been the material used in creating solder masks, and they come in green color. The industry now became accustomed to the green color. When solder masks started coming in other colors, most manufacturers still chose to use green.
Green solder masks have become very cost-effective due to their commonality. You will notice that the fiberglass boards are grayish brown in color. However, in modern printed circuit boards, you will hardly see it. This is due to the protection offered by the solder mask coating.
Contrast
The contrast with the circuit board’s white text printing is another cause for the popularity of the green color for printed circuit boards. To ensure high-quality printed circuit boards, the majority of manufacturers ensure hand inspection of their products.
With green circuit boards, there is less strain on the eyes, which makes it very easy for you to see all the parts of your printed circuit board. Furthermore, line workers are more accustomed to using green circuit boards. Therefore, they scan their green pcbs quicker and easier in contrast to other colors.
Military Standards
Another reason why circuit boards are usually green has to do with the methods of the military used in producing circuit boards. Some sources revealed that the U.S. military picked green as the most suitable for circuit board color in all situations they tested it for. This is why they picked green for making circuit boards for military reasons.
Majority of manufacturers supplying the United States military with circuit boards also produce for other customers. But the fact is that most of their work was for the military, therefore they had excess green coating, which caused their customers to spend less money.
Exposure
Green solder mask’s exposure rate is another answer to the question – why are circuit boards green? Solder masks with darker color usually have more pigmentation. This is why they need a higher rate of exposure.
Solder masks with white and black color will need the highest rate of exposure. Choosing green as your solder mask color also ensures that the client gets tighter tolerances for their design.
Makes mass production possible
Green color for circuit boards has been there a long time. This is why it has become the widely used color code for printed circuit boards. Having this in mind, it becomes easy to get the resources needed for its production.
It also makes it easily accessible for printed circuit board manufacturing plants in huge volumes. Because this is the color utilized by the majority of people, it helps in facilitating mass production.
Reduced Price
Due to the mass production of green circuit boards, it becomes readily available, thereby leading to reduced prices. Therefore, if you desire to use custom colors for the solder mask, then there is a need to pay more for it. Because green solder masks have affordable prices, green has become the standard color for use in the majority of circuit boards.
Ways of Choosing the Best PCB Color for you
So, what ways can you choose the best color for use in your circuit board? And why choose green?
Consider the PCB Product
For solder masks, the green color is one natural color you can work with. Generally, its coat is the thinnest and has a thickness layer of 0.1 mm. Furthermore, it has been optimized for long to suit the majority of PCB components, as well as ensuring the easy repair and assembly on the circuit board.
Consider the Batch and Price
When choosing a color for the solder mask, the top on the list is always green. Of all the available colors, it is most affordable and you can get them in large batches. With green solder masks, you will also be able to bargain well from the manufacturer.
Consideration for glossy and matte surfaces
The decision to go for either a glossy or matte finish is solely the choice or decision of your designer. These two surfaces work fine. The glossy finish appears to have a hard shell finish, while the matte finish is porous-like and presents a darker feel.
What Differentiates These PCB Colors?
Regarding the difference between these PCB colors, there is nothing outstanding that your choice of color does to the board’s functionality. Rather, it is during repairs and assembly that you’ll have an easy or hard time with the board’s contrast and the components of the PCB. However, there are still some little notable differences.
Cost Performance
Regarding cost, green is cheaper and most entrepreneurs and designers will definitely choose this. In the world of PCB, green is the most acceptable color. It will also be very cost-effective for your project.
Possible issues during the printing process
Regardless of the circuit board color, some issues may occur during printing. One of such common issues is the low ink viscosity. This makes poor adhesion to the circuit board. The need to increase the ink’s concentration then arises. Other issues you may likely experience include bad squeegee, high pressure of silk screen, difference in the distance between the printing surface and the screen.
Differences in Function
Asides from the repair or assembly, a solder mask’s functionality are the same regardless of the color you go for. The major purpose is offering a coating for the components of your PCB. Regardless of their intensity, any solder mask must act like this.
Choosing the Best PCB Color Supplier for You
Choosing the best supplier of PCB has to do with their consistency. You require a well-established supplier having cast comprehension of what circuit board color is.
Understanding that printed circuit boards are the major units of all electronic materials, and then you require a supplier having the best knowledge of solder mask application.
Regarding the application of your desired solder mask, RayMing PCB is there for you. We have a vast understanding of ways of handling PCBs and the type of colors that suits each of the devices. We will both provide and advise you on the best PCB colors and contrast for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a circuit board’s color mean?
A PCB color defines the solder mask or solder oil’s color. The PCB’s finishing color represents the solder mask. One major application of this solder mask is that it prevents the circuit board from short-circuiting.
What use is the solder mask?
The main protection of your circuit board against oxidation and corrosion is the solder mask. It plays a great role in the quality of printed circuit boards by protecting against a degrade in performance and shortening the normal lifetime of the device
Conclusion
It is important to consider the color for your PCB deeply before choosing one. The PCB is the base of all electronic projects. One a problem exists, there will be a complete disturbance in the system. You will have to choose a circuit board color carefully because it is very important in saving cost by increasing the efficiency of the circuit.
We are well-known for offering high-quality PCB solutions, because we are experts in offering efficient and high-quality PCBs to our customers. Our fabrication is also affordable, and we always go the extra mile to meet the requirements of our customers.
The Importance of Circuit Board Color
The major role of boards with colored coating is mainly for protection. This offers some protection for the board from any external factor, coupled with making sure that the PCB material is properly secure on the circuit board.
Furthermore, one extra factor PCB colors offer is that aesthetic factor it brings to the board. Some boards have unique colors i.e. pink, which will be lovely if this color is your choice. By this, they break the ordinary and monotonous green color of printed circuit boards.
What are the Different Types of Circuit Board Colors?
Regarding colors, this can happen in two ways. This has to do with what the designer feel and what the consumer thinks is best for them. Let us quickly consider the different PCB colors.
Blue Circuit Board
After green circuit boards, the blue circuit boards are the most popular. You can find them in many printed circuit boards. There’s a big difference between the copper wires and the circuit board color, which makes assembling and repairing easier.
Purple Circuit Board
Having your circuit board in purple isn’t really common. If you desire this color for your PCB, you may need to pay a fee. This depends on the manufacturer. With a purple circuit board, you have high contrast, and there will be great improvements in the overall workability.
Black Circuit Board
This circuit board color makes these boards a very complicated one. This is because, with black circuit boards, it becomes very difficult to differentiate and locate empty spaces, traces, and planes. Therefore, you will have to direct a beam of light to the board before you can inspect it.
Considering the flip side, if you are using different silkscreens, then you will be able to define the pads. Identifying the spots also becomes easy, but if they are also marked correctly.
Apple is well-known for making use of black circuit boards for manufacturing MacBook and iPhones.
White Circuit Board
Having your circuit board as white is the worst possible selection you can have for your solder mask. This is because it does not show any contrast in any way. Therefore, if black PCBs are difficult to work with, you may try using the white. Even with a light beam, its contrast is very difficult to view.
However, using silkscreen on black PCBs, you can easily create a contrast with the use of the duller colors present on the silkscreen.
Yellow Circuit Board
Working with yellow boards is very spectacular. It is still surprising that most designers don’t work with yellow solder mask color. With yellow, you get a better detail between the empty spaces, planes, and traces. Just like the green color, yellow circuit boards stand out due to its workability, ease, and efficiency.
Red Circuit Board
This color of circuit board is one professional and bold circuit board color, which designers choose. In addition, they provide a very high contrast within the traces, planes, and board’s spaces. This makes it very easy to locate any damage to the board instantly. In addition, it is important when making use of magnification during the identification of issues, which require the assistance of magnification present on the traces of the board.
Green Circuit Board
Green is known as the most widely used color for circuit boards \, and this has been the case for many years. To comprehend why this color is the favorite among other colors for many designers, we have to know why the green color in circuit boards is easy for use.
Why are Circuit Boards Green?
When you think about circuit boards, the first ever color that comes to your mind is green. Why is green the most preferred color for circuit boards for a long time now?
Materials
This is the first answer possible. Glass epoxy has always been the material used in creating solder masks, and they come in green color. The industry now became accustomed to the green color. When solder masks started coming in other colors, most manufacturers still chose to use green.
Green solder masks have become very cost-effective due to their commonality. You will notice that the fiberglass boards are grayish brown in color. However, in modern printed circuit boards, you will hardly see it. This is due to the protection offered by the solder mask coating.
Contrast
The contrast with the circuit board’s white text printing is another cause for the popularity of the green color for printed circuit boards. To ensure high-quality printed circuit boards, the majority of manufacturers ensure hand inspection of their products.
With green circuit boards, there is less strain on the eyes, which makes it very easy for you to see all the parts of your printed circuit board. Furthermore, line workers are more accustomed to using green circuit boards. Therefore, they scan their green pcbs quicker and easier in contrast to other colors.
Military Standards
Another reason why circuit boards are usually green has to do with the methods of the military used in producing circuit boards. Some sources revealed that the U.S. military picked green as the most suitable for circuit board color in all situations they tested it for. This is why they picked green for making circuit boards for military reasons.
Majority of manufacturers supplying the United States military with circuit boards also produce for other customers. But the fact is that most of their work was for the military, therefore they had excess green coating, which caused their customers to spend less money.
Exposure
Green solder mask’s exposure rate is another answer to the question – why are circuit boards green? Solder masks with darker color usually have more pigmentation. This is why they need a higher rate of exposure.
Solder masks with white and black color will need the highest rate of exposure. Choosing green as your solder mask color also ensures that the client gets tighter tolerances for their design.
Makes mass production possible
Green color for circuit boards has been there a long time. This is why it has become the widely used color code for printed circuit boards. Having this in mind, it becomes easy to get the resources needed for its production.
It also makes it easily accessible for printed circuit board manufacturing plants in huge volumes. Because this is the color utilized by the majority of people, it helps in facilitating mass production.
Reduced Price
Due to the mass production of green circuit boards, it becomes readily available, thereby leading to reduced prices. Therefore, if you desire to use custom colors for the solder mask, then there is a need to pay more for it. Because green solder masks have affordable prices, green has become the standard color for use in the majority of circuit boards.
Ways of Choosing the Best PCB Color for you
So, what ways can you choose the best color for use in your circuit board? And why choose green?
Consider the PCB Product
For solder masks, the green color is one natural color you can work with. Generally, its coat is the thinnest and has a thickness layer of 0.1 mm. Furthermore, it has been optimized for long to suit the majority of PCB components, as well as ensuring the easy repair and assembly on the circuit board.
Consider the Batch and Price
When choosing a color for the solder mask, the top on the list is always green. Of all the available colors, it is most affordable and you can get them in large batches. With green solder masks, you will also be able to bargain well from the manufacturer.
Consideration for glossy and matte surfaces
The decision to go for either a glossy or matte finish is solely the choice or decision of your designer. These two surfaces work fine. The glossy finish appears to have a hard shell finish, while the matte finish is porous-like and presents a darker feel.
What Differentiates These PCB Colors?
Regarding the difference between these PCB colors, there is nothing outstanding that your choice of color does to the board’s functionality. Rather, it is during repairs and assembly that you’ll have an easy or hard time with the board’s contrast and the components of the PCB. However, there are still some little notable differences.
Cost Performance
Regarding cost, green is cheaper and most entrepreneurs and designers will definitely choose this. In the world of PCB, green is the most acceptable color. It will also be very cost-effective for your project.
Possible issues during the printing process
Regardless of the circuit board color, some issues may occur during printing. One of such common issues is the low ink viscosity. This makes poor adhesion to the circuit board. The need to increase the ink’s concentration then arises. Other issues you may likely experience include bad squeegee, high pressure of silk screen, difference in the distance between the printing surface and the screen.
Differences in Function
Asides from the repair or assembly, a solder mask’s functionality are the same regardless of the color you go for. The major purpose is offering a coating for the components of your PCB. Regardless of their intensity, any solder mask must act like this.
Choosing the Best PCB Color Supplier for You
Choosing the best supplier of PCB has to do with their consistency. You require a well-established supplier having cast comprehension of what circuit board color is.
Understanding that printed circuit boards are the major units of all electronic materials, and then you require a supplier having the best knowledge of solder mask application.
Regarding the application of your desired solder mask, RayMing PCB is there for you. We have a vast understanding of ways of handling PCBs and the type of colors that suits each of the devices. We will both provide and advise you on the best PCB colors and contrast for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a circuit board’s color mean?
A PCB color defines the solder mask or solder oil’s color. The PCB’s finishing color represents the solder mask. One major application of this solder mask is that it prevents the circuit board from short-circuiting.
What use is the solder mask?
The main protection of your circuit board against oxidation and corrosion is the solder mask. It plays a great role in the quality of printed circuit boards by protecting against a degrade in performance and shortening the normal lifetime of the device
Conclusion
It is important to consider the color for your PCB deeply before choosing one. The PCB is the base of all electronic projects. One a problem exists, there will be a complete disturbance in the system. You will have to choose a circuit board color carefully because it is very important in saving cost by increasing the efficiency of the circuit.
We are well-known for offering high-quality PCB solutions, because we are experts in offering efficient and high-quality PCBs to our customers. Our fabrication is also affordable, and we always go the extra mile to meet the requirements of our customers.
