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subject to engineering review. When designing a transparent


PCB, appearance and functionality need to be considered together. Trace routing, component placement, mounting methods and lighting conditions can all influence the final visual effect. Designers should also consider how visible traces and solder joints will fit into the overall design. As transparent rigid PCBs may


involve specific material and manufacturing requirements, each project is subject to engineering evaluation. To request a quotation, customers should select the transparent rigid PCB option in the special request field and contact PCBWay’s sales team for confirmation of feasibility and specifications.


Colour printing: More than a different solder mask Transparency changes how a circuit board is seen; colour printing changes what can be expressed on its surface. Traditional PCB customisation


often focuses on solder mask colour, silkscreen markings and surface fi nish. PCBWay’s colour printing service adds another dimension by allowing images, coloured text, patterns and other graphic elements to be printed directly onto a board. This creates opportunities for more expressive product identifi cation, decorative layouts and customised electronics. The service uses UV printing


technology, in which UV-curable inks are rapidly cured under UV-LED lamps. The normal printing process is designed to withstand SMT refl ow, making the service relevant to boards that proceed to component assembly. Two fi nish options are available:


matte and glossy, with matte as the default. Matte printing produces a smooth appearance without increasing the board’s overall thickness. Glossy printing creates a more refl ective fi nish, but it increases


Collaborative project for a colour PCB [Design and photography by @CircuitDigest]


thickness and may affect soldering on component pads. The printing layout and fi nish therefore need to be selected with the board’s assembly requirements in mind. Colour printing is especially useful when standard silkscreen markings are not enough. A board can incorporate multicolour labels, visual instructions, logos, decorative graphics, or other design elements that support a product’s identity. For educational kits, colour-coded graphics can help distinguish functional sections. For customised consumer devices and maker projects, printed artwork can make a prototype feel more like a finished product.


As with any customised PCB


process, the final colourful result depends on good preparation. PCBWay accepts artwork in formats including AI, PDF, JPEG, PNG, and TIFF. Customers should specify where the image is to appear on the board and provide reference pictures where appropriate. The maximum size for a single printed piece is 270 × 470mm, and a background solder mask colour must be selected. Artwork should be planned alongside the electrical design. Coloured characters should not be placed over solder mask openings, such as surface-mount or through- hole pads, where they could interfere with assembly. If a design includes


a QR code, its size, contrast, and placement should allow reliable scanning.


Bringing function and appearance together Transparent PCBs and colour printing address different design needs, but both reflect a broader shift in electronics manufacturing: appearance can be considered alongside electrical performance from the beginning of a project. A transparent board can expose the beauty and logic of a circuit. Colour printing can communicate information, reinforce branding, or give a project a more personal character. Depending on the application, these approaches can be used separately or combined to create a more distinctive result. For engineers and makers, the


key is to identify the intended visual effect early, then account for materials, component placement, thermal requirements, assembly constraints and artwork preparation during design. With transparent rigid PCB fabrication and customised colour printing, PCBWay provides additional options for turning that design intent into a physical circuit board – one that does more than connect components and becomes part of the product itself.


www.pcbway.com www.electronicsworld.co.uk November 2026 07


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