Decoding PCB Silkscreen Colors and Placement: Component vs. PCB Layout Insights

1. Which Colors Are Utilized in PCB Silkscreening?

Generally, PCB silkscreen color tends to be white, known for its universal adaptability in manufacturing processes. However, other colors such as yellow, red, and black are also commonly employed in the initial stages of PCB board design. Pink silkscreen is favored by some PCB layout designers, yet its use is not typically recommended due to its specific characteristics that are unfriendly to the manufacturing process.

2. Component Silkscreen vs. PCB Layout Silkscreen

Typically, in PCB design software, the silkscreen layer is defined on either the top or bottom layer, commonly known as top-layer silkscreen or bottom-layer silkscreen. Usually, silkscreen markings are either directly placed within the PCB layout or within the component package. If referred to as 'in the PCB layout', this implies manually placing the silkscreen within the PCB layout. Some PCB silkscreen markers are positioned within the component packaging. The table below illustrates which silkscreen information is placed within the components and which silkscreen markings are manually placed within the PCB layout.