Electronics Layers
Electronics layers are organizational tools that help you manage different parts of your PCB design. They control both what you see on screen and the physical structure of your circuit board.
Display Layers
Display layers are virtual layers that group and show similar objects in the design interface. You manage these through the Display Layers panel in the schematic, PCB, and library editors.
You can:
- Show or hide individual layers
- Lock layers to prevent accidental changes
- Set the active layer for drawing
- Change layer appearance and material properties
- Create and manage layer sets for different design tasks
Every object in your design must be on a layer. When you draw or place an object, Fusion adds it to the active layer. You can move objects between layers by editing their properties. Objects on the same layer share a color by default, but Net Class colors can override this for better signal viewing.
Physical Layers
Physical layers represent the actual materials that make up your printed circuit board. These include copper layers, dielectric layers, silkscreen, and solder mask. You define and manage these layers by changing the Layer Stack, which controls:
- Layer order
- Material types
- Via configurations
- Stackup settings
Only copper layers defined in the layer stack can be used for routing and layout. The Flip Board and Single Layer View tools help you inspect and route on specific layers by changing visibility and perspective.
Common Use Cases
- Reduce visual clutter: Use Display Layers to customize your workspace
- Switch between task views: Use Layer Sets to quickly change views for routing or inspection
- Configure board structure: Use the Layer Stack to set up your board's physical structure before starting layout
- Inspect opposite side: Use Flip Board to view the other side of the PCB
- Focus on one layer: Use Single Layer View to isolate routing on a specific layer