Altium Designer - Help - Mask and 3D view.  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: skeematics21
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2014, 02:46:38 pm
content: How do i change the color of the solder mask? When viewing my PC Board in 3D, the default color is turquoise blue. How do i change it to standard green?Also, i purposely placed a string text on the bottom layer (Ground) of my 2 layer board. The string shows up correctly in all fabrication outputs but not in 3D view. What am i doing wrong?

author: toohec
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2014, 04:58:34 pm
content: The colors for the 3D view are configured in the layers dialog box, accessible by the "L" keyboard shortcut while in 3D view. You can configure the copper color, solder mask, silkscreen etc.For the second issue where you are unable to see your bottom copper, it's likely that your transparency for the bottom layer solder mask is set to opaque (100%). I would adjust it to the same transparency level as you have for the top solder mask and you should be able to see the bottom copper. Reference this thread for more detail.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/altium/3d-view-bottom-layer/

author: skeematics21
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2014, 06:39:49 pm
content: Thanks for you help.. i will give it at try!

author: skeematics21
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2014, 07:05:01 pm
content: Quote from: toohec on January 30, 2014, 04:58:34 pmThat was it!! Thanks again.One more question, do you know how to "Turn OFF" the mechanical 13 and 15 layer? They are showing on all the pages when i do a Final Fabrication Output.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2014, 07:44:42 pm
content: in the output generator , simply right click on the layer and select delete

author: skeematics21
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2014, 07:55:18 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on January 30, 2014, 07:44:42 pmPlease pardon my ignorance in this matter due to the fact that i've just started using this software with no prior experience in PC Board layout. Specifically where do i find the output generator with the layer option?i do not see any layer option in Fabrication Output and Assembly Output

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2014, 08:38:05 pm
content: in the output generator , under fabrication outputs -> add new fabrication output ->Final Artwork printsthis creates a new entry.double click on that entry , this opens the configurations dialogyou can then right-click on the views you don't want or the layers you don't want and kill themor , you go to preferences at the bottom left and in that dialog turn off all the mechanical layersthen simply right-click in the printout and layers and select 'final' and it will rebuild all print jobs with your selected options.All this stuff is saved in an .outjob file.you can simply copy that file between projects.I have an .outjob that creates all kinds of PDF's, gebrers , assembly views , assembly data ,BOM and whatever. click two or three buttons and all directory sturcures and files are created fully automatic.you need to take the time to set this up to your liking once.in the output containers you can create 'equations' for examplecreate a pdf job and link it to your final artworkclick the change buttonset output to [project dir]container type to PDFcollate to single file and enter the following formula =ProjectName + 'Assembly drawings'whenever you click the Generate button in your project directory it will create a subdirectory called PDF and create a file containing all drawings with the name of your project followed by Assembly drawings.The formulas let you inject lots of things into the filenames.

author: skeematics21
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2014, 08:44:06 pm
content: free_electron.......Thanks for detailed instructions!!However i do not see "add new fabrication output ->Final Artwork prints". See my attachment for screen shot of available options under fabrication output. FYI, i'm using 13.2

author: armandas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2014, 09:35:37 pm
content: Quote from: skeematics21 on January 30, 2014, 08:44:06 pmCreate a new output job (File > New > Output Job) and do it from there.

author: toohec
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2014, 09:44:45 pm
content: I'm going to assume that you are generating your prints/outputs using the "fabrication outputs" under the file menu and NOT using an output job in your project. If so, you can configure the fabrication output settings by selecting "Default Prints..." in the same file menu. In the dialog box that pops up, find the print that you wish to edit and select the configure button at the bottom. You can then edit the layers, colors, object types, etc for drawing shown. It might be confusing at first, so it will take a little time poking around in there. Once the prints are configured, you can just generate them using the "fabrication outputs..." menu under the file menu. You may wish to generate each drawing type independently as opposed to using the final drawings output option.free_electron's information covers the case where you add an output job file to your project. That can be added by selecting File > New... > Output Job File. The output job is more powerful, so you should investigate that method as well.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2014, 11:11:06 pm
content: See that "Altium 3D Blue" in the drop-box on the toolbar? Give that a pokeCustom colors of course are on the "L" dialog. (Don't forget to save your custom colors to a profile... Altium likes to reset to defaults for no reason.)Tim

author: skeematics21
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2014, 01:36:30 pm
content: toohec.. that was it!! thanks again for your help.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2014, 04:35:02 pm
content: The output throught the file menu is for a quick and dirty output.Always use an outjob configuration. You can create all output, gebrer, pdf, bom , exactly to your liking.I automatically create a pdf for the board house, one for the assebly house, one for the people usingt he board. They contain different layers , different views.I will post an outjob file on my website over thr weekiend to give you an idea what can be done.