PCB Print Preferences

Now reading version 17.1. For the latest, read: PCB Print Preferences for version 22
Applies to Altium Designer versions: 15.1, 16.0, 16.1, 17.0 and 17.1

The PCB Print Preferences dialog

The PCB Print Preferences dialog

Summary

The PCB Print Preferences dialog allows the designer to define global print preferences that are applied to all PCB-related print output (with the exception of PCB 3D Prints).

Access

The dialog is accessed by clicking Preferences at the bottom left of the PCB Printout Properties dialog.

Options/Controls

  • Colors & Gray Scales
    • Main Grid - this area allows you to control the coloring that is used for each possible layer than can be printed. For each layer, you can define the color used when printing in grayscale or color. Click on the left-hand color swatch to access the range of grayscale shades. Click on the right-hand color swatch to access the Choose Color dialog, from where you can choose from a range of predefined colors or create your own, custom color.
    • Retrieve Layer Colors From PCB - click this button if you wish to print using the same colors configured for the PCB design in the PCB Editor.
Using this feature will overwrite the right-hand color swatch for each layer. The grayscale color definitions will remain unchanged unless you manually change them.
To print in color or gray scale, the corresponding option - Color or Gray - must be enabled in the associated page setup dialog for the print output. The color printing mode for the nominated printing device must also be set accordingly in its associated properties dialog.
  • Load from Default - click to update colors to the default settings. This will overwrite the local color set. A Confirm Update Colors confirmation pop-up will appear where you will confirm Yes or No.
  • Save as Default - click to overwrite default color set with your local color set.
  • Include on New Printouts - as well as adding mechanical layers individually to a printout, you can also automatically include them in all printouts  when the print job(s) for the parent document type is sent to the nominated printing device. Use this region of the dialog to enable/disable each of the 16 possible mechanical layers for printing, as required.
  • Font Substitutions
    • Default - check the box to use default settings. Use  to open the Font dialog in which you can further define the Font settings.
    • Serif - check this box to use the Serif font. Use   to open the Font dialog in which you can further define the Font settings.
    • Sans Serif - check this box to use the Sans Serif font. Use   to open the Font dialog in which you can further define the Font settings.
  • Options
    • Print Keepout Objects - enable this option to have keepout-designated design objects included on the printed document.
    • Use Net override color - enable this option to have the net color used in prints rather than the layer color.

 

Note

The features available depend on your level of Altium Designer Software Subscription.