Default graphic properties for each layer separatelly

[Piotr Gałka]

I think it would be useful to have a possibility to set default properties for new graphic items (Line / Text) for each layer separately. I think the Color Picker dialog box could be extended to contain it.

Application: KiCad
Version: (5.1.4)-1, release build
Libraries:
    wxWidgets 3.0.4
    libcurl/7.61.1 OpenSSL/1.1.1 (WinSSL) zlib/1.2.11 brotli/1.0.6 libidn2/2.0.5 libpsl/0.20.2 (+libidn2/2.0.5) nghttp2/1.34.0
Platform: Windows 7 (build 7601, Service Pack 1), 64-bit edition, 64 bit, Little endian, wxMSW
Build Info:
    wxWidgets: 3.0.4 (wchar_t,wx containers,compatible with 2.8)
    Boost: 1.68.0
    OpenCASCADE Community Edition: 6.9.1
    Curl: 7.61.1
    Compiler: GCC 8.2.0 with C++ ABI 1013

Build settings:
    USE_WX_GRAPHICS_CONTEXT=OFF
    USE_WX_OVERLAY=OFF
    KICAD_SCRIPTING=ON
    KICAD_SCRIPTING_MODULES=ON
    KICAD_SCRIPTING_PYTHON3=OFF
    KICAD_SCRIPTING_WXPYTHON=ON
    KICAD_SCRIPTING_WXPYTHON_PHOENIX=OFF
    KICAD_SCRIPTING_ACTION_MENU=ON
    BUILD_GITHUB_PLUGIN=ON
    KICAD_USE_OCE=ON
    KICAD_USE_OCC=OFF
    KICAD_SPICE=ON

[Jeff Young (jeyjey)]

@Piotr, look in the board setup dialog. (The page names have changed since 5.1.4 so I don't remember exactly what it's called, but something mentioning Text & Graphics.)

[Piotr Gałka (piotrgalka)]

In 5.1.4 there are only settings for:
Silk Layers
Copper Layers
Edge Cuts
Coutyards
Other Layers

The work is easier if you can use defaults instead of modifying for example text size of each placed text.
Assume we have silk at top but not at bottom. And we have the PCB for DIN rail case. There are two lines of terminal blocks (2x12=24 I/O lines). You have no place on top to describe input/output lines (terminal blocks touch PCB edge) but you have a lot of place under terminal blocks. That description is not for the end user (he will have it at case) but for yourself. We have many such PCBs and no one with case just because we need a connection to PDI programming/debugging socket.
Having no silk at bottom I write pin descriptions at copper. But when covered by solder mask it is hard to read. So I also write the same texts at solder mask to get a gold letters - visibility - perfect.
To have default text size for solder mask I have to set default for _all_ Other Layers.
This time I was working with other PCB (DIN example was the simplest to show real need for it), but also I had some texts at bottom. And then I added some dimension lines and noticed that I have dimension's written in different sizes (new ones used the size I have just set for solder mask). So I had to manually change text parameters in all just added dimensions (3 parameters to write per each) or to delete them, modify the default for _all_ Other Layers and put them once more.
In such situation I think what can be done to make KiCad better.
For me if that list would be extended with "Solder mask layers" would probably be enough. But I can imagine someone can need different dimensions at User or Eco layers. And he can't do all the job at each layer before moving to next layer. If he could just set default for each layer it would be the most comfortable for him. I think changing default line width and text size should be easier accessible that changing colours. I think if someone don't use default colour set then he spend some time and his color set used stabilizes, but text sizes can depend on PCB.
Because of this I think it would be good if default can be set for each layer. That dialog box can be left - changing in it would be propagated to appropriate layers, but I think finding that settings in right toolbar would be simpler than in menu.
But it is of course only proposition. I think it would be better, but you can have other opinion.

[Wayne Stambaugh (stambaughw)]

The remaining 32 layers that have yet to be define are going to be enabled during version 6 development. These layers will be user definable.

[KiCad Janitor (kicad-janitor)]

KiCad bug tracker has moved to Gitlab. This report is now available here: https://gitlab.com/kicad/code/kicad/-/issues/1934