Protoboard Designer Documentation

Protoboard Designer is a free-to-start, WYSIWYG PCB layout editor that runs in your browser and on Android. You place footprints and draw copper directly — no schematic, no netlist, no EDA background needed — then export Gerber files for a fab or a PDF mask for home etching.

These docs take you from "never designed a board" to holding one.

🚀 New here? Start with these

1. Design Your First PCB in 5 Minutes — place two parts, route a trace, save. The whole loop.
2. Find Your Way Around the Editor — canvas, grid, layers, selection, and the habits that make everything easier.
3. Projects, Cloud Sync & Backups — guest mode, local vs cloud, and .pbd backup files.
4. PCB Basics: Terms Every Beginner Should Know — the vocabulary, in plain language.

📐 Understand the concepts

• Understanding PCB Layers — what goes on which layer, and why.
• Pads, Vias & Pad Options — TH vs SMD, shapes, thermal relief, clearance.
• How to Choose Trace Width and Spacing — safe defaults and a width-for-current table.

📖 Get things done

• Define Your Board Shape and Size
• Connect Components and Route Traces — airwires, routing, autoroute, vias.
• Add a Ground Pour with AutoGround
• Create Your Own Footprints — any part, straight from the datasheet.
• Generate Antennas, Coils, QR Codes & More — the Insert Hub.
• Check Your Design with DRC — catch problems before you pay for them.
• Export Gerber Files → Order Your First PCB
• Export a PDF — toner-transfer and UV masks for home etching.
• Export an Image — PNG/JPG renders for docs and sharing.

🔁 Coming from another tool?

• Import a Sprint Layout project (.lay6) — full boards, free on every plan.
• Import an Eagle board (.brd) — keep your Eagle layouts alive.
• Import KiCad Footprints — bring your part libraries, even from GitHub.

Prefer to just try it?

The editor is designed to be self-explanatory — open the web app, start a board, and come back here when you hit a question. Everything is reversible with Undo.