What background colo(u)r do you use in Schematic Capture/Editor?

[olkipukki]

<subj> 

[olkipukki]

We got 'Something else' first vote - do you mind to share a color scheme, what is it?

[SiliconWizard]

We got 'Something else' first vote - do you mind to share a color scheme, what is it?

That must be me.

I don't like black bakgrounds on screen - not necessarily because I don't like how that looks, but because the complete inverse from usual documents (which are black on white) makes it a pain to use (for me). When you go from one black bg to one white bg and back, that's very annoying for the eyes.

I sometimes use white bg when I don't have a choice, but otherwise I try to select something like a very light yellow, which is easier to the eyes (IMO).

[T3sl4co1l]

Funny, it always bothered the hell out of me that Altium default is ... oh what is it, let me see... ah, #fffcf8.

Which a lot of LCD monitors don't even render correctly, being indistinguishable from white.  At least at default settings, or over VGA rather than HDMI, or with default brightness or gamma or color settings... but hey, a lot of people use exactly those configurations, so it easily goes missed.

The background becomes most noticeable when you finally send schematics to the printer, and find it's covered in dots because the printer struggles to match such a subtle color.  If you have a color printer, the yellow dots may go unnoticed, but B&W printers can only make a pitiful attempt at halftoning it.

Tim

[HwAoRrDk]

Which a lot of LCD monitors don't even render correctly, being indistinguishable from white.  At least at default settings, or over VGA rather than HDMI, or with default brightness or gamma or color settings... but hey, a lot of people use exactly those configurations, so it easily goes missed.

A lot of cheap LCD monitors equipped with TN panels can't actually do 8-bit colour, but instead 6-bit. I could see how near-white and white would be indistinguishable on such monitors.

[Rerouter]

Plain white for schematic. Black for pcb. Off white for 3d. Kicad defaults.

Works well for me and I rarely get eye strain because there is content on both that even it out.

[james_s]

The first thing I always do in KiCAD is set the schematic background to black. I don't know how people can stand to look at that blinding white sheet, my eyes hurt just thinking about it.

[SiliconWizard]

The first thing I always do in KiCAD is set the schematic background to black. I don't know how people can stand to look at that blinding white sheet, my eyes hurt just thinking about it.

That's why I choose a less blinding color when possible.
(But as I said, black just doesn't work out for me.)

[SiliconWizard]

Funny, it always bothered the hell out of me that Altium default is ... oh what is it, let me see... ah, #fffcf8.

Which a lot of LCD monitors don't even render correctly, being indistinguishable from white.  At least at default settings, or over VGA rather than HDMI, or with default brightness or gamma or color settings... but hey, a lot of people use exactly those configurations, so it easily goes missed.

If the default config bothers you or doesn't render properly on your monitor, just change it.
There's certainly a color that renders correctly and which is OK to you and neither white nor black. Now if the software you use doesn't allow you to change it, that would suck.

The background becomes most noticeable when you finally send schematics to the printer, and find it's covered in dots because the printer struggles to match such a subtle color.  If you have a color printer, the yellow dots may go unnoticed, but B&W printers can only make a pitiful attempt at halftoning it.

You should never print in anything else than B&W anyway IMHO.

[T3sl4co1l]

That's why I had to go look for it... my templates are all #ffffff.

Tim

[SiliconWizard]

Am I right suspecting that the software you use doesn't have any option to print or export a schematic in pure B&W regardless of the color scheme on screen?

If so, said software is pure crap IMHO.

[olkipukki]

Weird, I prefer a dark mode everywhere where possible, but somehow still use light colours in Altium's schematics.
Maybe because I will reuse these for documentation (printed and PDF) later.

10 people here voted for 'Black' background.
Does your schematics ever leave your screen?

[digsys]

Using Proteus - used these colours for ever

[SiliconWizard]

Using Proteus - used these colours for ever
(Attachment Link)

It illustrates my point. They are easy on the eyes.

[Feynman]

10 people here voted for 'Black' background.
Does your schematics ever leave your screen?

I guess, every decent tool has configureable color sets.

In our tool its literally one click to chance the color set from a black background with less eye-tearing colors to a color set that looks nice on a print out on white paper, for example.

[jpanhalt]

There seem to be two questions:
1) What background color for schematic capture; and
2) What background color for schematic editor.

To me, "schematic capture" means I am working on the board and have tools like DRC.  "Schematic edit" means I am working on the schematic and have tools alike ERC.

The poll only allows one choice.  For schematic edit, my back ground is white or near white and the grid is usually off. 

For working on the board, my basic colors are black background, red for top layer, blue for bottom layer, and a variety of other colors for airwires, SMD pads, TH pads, vias, and other layers.  The grid can be a useful tool in that setting and is frequently switched between on and off.  I find the high contrast of a black background is helpful.  When I print, I usually reverse the background.

[eliocor]

my 4k monitor is calibrated: white background and no strain to the eyes

[Jester]

I change it from time to time, but lately, I use an off white sort of light beige for the schematic and either dark green or black for the PCB.

[olkipukki]

Pink 1 (2.4%)

Who is using a pink colour? 

[olkipukki]

10 people here voted for 'Black' background.
Does your schematics ever leave your screen?

I guess, every decent tool has configureable color sets.

In our tool its literally one click to chance the color set from a black background with less eye-tearing colors to a color set that looks nice on a print out on white paper, for example.

What is your tool?

[Feynman]

10 people here voted for 'Black' background.
Does your schematics ever leave your screen?

I guess, every decent tool has configureable color sets.

In our tool its literally one click to chance the color set from a black background with less eye-tearing colors to a color set that looks nice on a print out on white paper, for example.

What is your tool?

We use Pulsonix.

[olkipukki]

We use Pulsonix.

Never heard Pulsonix, what is their pricing?

More or less similar that mentioned https://www.eevblog.com/forum/eda/pulsonix-design-software-whats-the-general-opinion/ here?

[Feynman]

Yes, and as far as I know prices have stayed the same for about a decade or so.

[olkipukki]

That's cool.

Does Database Connection included into a standard package or extra $?

[Feynman]

DB connection is a cost option.