What background colo(u)r do you use in Schematic Capture/Editor? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: olkipukki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2020, 04:59:25 pm
content: <subj>

author: olkipukki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2020, 07:44:33 pm
content: We got 'Something else' first vote - do you mind to share a color scheme, what is it?

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2020, 06:46:14 pm
content: Quote from: olkipukki on March 15, 2020, 07:44:33 pmThat must be me.I don't like black bakgrounds on screen - not necessarily because I don't like how that looks, but because the complete inverse from usual documents (which are black on white) makes it a pain to use (for me). When you go from one black bg to one white bg and back, that's very annoying for the eyes.I sometimes use white bg when I don't have a choice, but otherwise I try to select something like a very light yellow, which is easier to the eyes (IMO).

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 17, 2020, 01:01:20 am
content: Funny, it always bothered the hell out of me that Altium default is ... oh what is it, let me see... ah, #fffcf8.Which a lot of LCD monitors don't even render correctly, being indistinguishable from white. At least at default settings, or over VGA rather than HDMI, or with default brightness or gamma or color settings... but hey, a lot of people use exactly those configurations, so it easily goes missed.The background becomes most noticeable when you finally send schematics to the printer, and find it's covered in dots because the printer struggles to match such a subtle color. If you have a color printer, the yellow dotsmay go unnoticed, but B&W printers can only make a pitiful attempt at halftoning it.Tim

author: HwAoRrDk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2020, 02:02:44 am
content: Quote from: T3sl4co1l on March 17, 2020, 01:01:20 amA lot of cheap LCD monitors equipped with TN panels can't actually do 8-bit colour, but instead 6-bit. I could see how near-white and white would be indistinguishable on such monitors.

author: Rerouter
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2020, 02:46:50 am
content: Plain white for schematic. Black for pcb. Off white for 3d. Kicad defaults.Works well for me and I rarely get eye strain because there is content on both that even it out.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2020, 03:49:03 pm
content: The first thing I always do in KiCAD is set the schematic background to black. I don't know how people can stand to look at that blinding white sheet, my eyes hurt just thinking about it.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2020, 03:58:42 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on March 19, 2020, 03:49:03 pmThat's why I choose a less blinding color when possible.(But as I said, black just doesn't work out for me.)

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2020, 04:00:51 pm
content: Quote from: T3sl4co1l on March 17, 2020, 01:01:20 amIf the default config bothers you or doesn't render properly on your monitor, just change it.There's certainly a color that renders correctly and which is OK to you and neither white nor black. Now if the software you use doesn't allow you to change it, that would suck.Quote from: T3sl4co1l on March 17, 2020, 01:01:20 amYou should never print in anything else than B&W anyway IMHO.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2020, 06:23:42 pm
content: That's why I had to go look for it... my templates are all #ffffff.Tim

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2020, 07:25:59 pm
content: Am I right suspecting that the software you use doesn't have any option to print or export a schematic in pure B&W regardless of the color scheme on screen?If so, said software is pure crap IMHO.

author: olkipukki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2020, 06:43:16 am
content: Weird, I prefer a dark mode everywhere where possible, but somehow still use light colours in Altium's schematics.Maybe because I will reuse these for documentation (printed and PDF) later.10 people here voted for 'Black' background.Does your schematics ever leave your screen?

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 06, 2020, 06:59:51 am
content: Using Proteus - used these colours for ever

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2020, 03:22:42 pm
content: Quote from: digsys on April 06, 2020, 06:59:51 amIt illustrates my point. They are easy on the eyes.

author: Feynman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2020, 11:36:35 am
content: Quote from: olkipukki on April 06, 2020, 06:43:16 amI guess, every decent tool has configureable color sets.In our tool its literally one click to chance the color set from a black background with less eye-tearing colors to a color set that looks nice on a print out on white paper, for example.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2020, 12:19:20 pm
content: There seem to be two questions:1) What background color for schematic capture; and2) What background color for schematic editor.To me, "schematic capture" means I am working on the board and have tools like DRC. "Schematic edit" means I am working on the schematic and have tools alike ERC.The poll only allows one choice. For schematic edit, my back ground is white or near white and the grid is usually off.For working on the board, my basic colors are black background, red for top layer, blue for bottom layer, and a variety of other colors for airwires, SMD pads, TH pads, vias, and other layers. The grid can be a useful tool in that setting and is frequently switched between on and off. I find the high contrast of a black background is helpful. When I print, I usually reverse the background.

author: eliocor
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 12, 2020, 04:30:40 pm
content: my 4k monitor is calibrated: white background and no strain to the eyes

author: Jester
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2020, 06:12:07 pm
content: I change it from time to time, but lately, I use an off white sort of light beige for the schematic and either dark green or black for the PCB.

author: olkipukki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2020, 01:14:23 pm
content: Pink 1 (2.4%)Who is using a pink colour?

author: olkipukki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2020, 01:15:34 pm
content: Quote from: Feynman on April 12, 2020, 11:36:35 amWhat is your tool?

author: Feynman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2020, 03:23:48 pm
content: Quote from: olkipukki on April 13, 2020, 01:15:34 pmWe use Pulsonix.

author: olkipukki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2020, 04:01:21 pm
content: Quote from: Feynman on April 13, 2020, 03:23:48 pmNever heard Pulsonix, what is their pricing?More or less similar that mentionedhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/eda/pulsonix-design-software-whats-the-general-opinion/here?

author: Feynman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2020, 07:20:24 pm
content: Yes, and as far as I know prices have stayed the same for about a decade or so.

author: olkipukki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2020, 08:06:14 pm
content: That's cool.Does Database Connection included into a standard package or extra $?

author: Feynman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2020, 08:15:55 pm
content: DB connection is a cost option.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 15, 2020, 09:11:18 am
content: Quote from: james_s on March 19, 2020, 03:49:03 pmI set mine a little off white and makes the world of difference, I also wear slightly blue tinted glasses.