Make Your Own Multi Colour PCB

In this Instructable I'm going to show you how to make your own coloured PCBs

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Step 1: What You Need

A PCB to dye
A Permanent Marker the colour you want to dye your PCB
Acetone (I use nail polish remover that has acetone as the main ingredient)
Kitchen roll

kentsfield says: Aug 4, 2012. 2:40 AM

Didn't work :(

I am using the FR2 Cardboard, not the fiberglass one with a permanent marker. I first added a few layers of "dye", then gently rubbed it off. But well, I just rubbed everything off. I tried it a few times more, but well, you don't see anything. I first used acetone free nail polish remover, then a one with acetone. Same result. I also used different permanent markers. still nothing :(

icecreamterror (author) in reply to kentsfieldAug 4, 2012. 6:11 AM

sorry to hear it didn't work for you, maybe try another brand of board, as iv never come across a FR2 Cardboard that didn't take the ink.......maybe yours has some funky new protective coating?

QBN-14 says: Jul 27, 2012. 8:33 PM

How long do you let the sharpie sit before you wipe it off?

gatan says: May 14, 2010. 3:37 AM

great.......
what are you used for drawing layout? protel or?
can you share that program for me? :)

tigerbomb8 in reply to gatanNov 2, 2011. 11:24 PM

i use Eagle or Fritzing

jgosselin in reply to tigerbomb8Nov 12, 2011. 12:55 AM

i would love to use eagle but i am at loss on how to use it. any help would be greatly appreciated. very cool instructable btw all my pcb's are going to be blue :D

pensativo in reply to jgosselinMay 20, 2012. 6:18 PM

Try EAGLE. Trust me, the best way to do it is to download it and poke around. Then look up as many tutorials online as you can and poke around in it some more. The thing about these things is that the more features you get the steeper the learning curve, but it is well worth it. I have used a few software packages and for the price you can't get any better. :)
http://www.cadsoftusa.com/download-eagle/?language=en

chipscolaman says: Nov 3, 2011. 9:49 AM

But will it blend?

nice, thx

Sparticles says: Sep 21, 2011. 8:16 AM

It didn't work :(
With acetone I just rubbed everything off instantly. (and yes, it is a permanent marker)

icecreamterror (author) in reply to SparticlesSep 21, 2011. 9:10 AM

What type of Clad Laminate board are you using?

Its has to be one of the brown FR2 paper based,not the FR4 fiberglass board.

Sparticles in reply to icecreamterrorSep 21, 2011. 10:58 AM

Ah yes, it is fiberglass. Too bad because it really looks nice in your pictures.

Spaceman Spiff says: Jun 15, 2011. 12:30 AM

Worked Great, first try! Thanks for the ible!

ryukyu says: Nov 24, 2010. 9:57 AM

I use rubbing alcohol to clean up after soldering. Wouldn't the alcohol (or similar flux remover) cause the dye to run?

orion4713111 says: May 9, 2010. 5:43 PM

what's "kitchen roll"?

owenaero in reply to orion4713111Sep 20, 2010. 8:39 PM

it is a rooling pen used for flattining dough

SRChiP in reply to orion4713111May 10, 2010. 2:00 AM

I think it's just some thick tissue. (generally used in kitchen)

orion4713111 in reply to SRChiPMay 15, 2010. 7:27 PM

sounds like what we call "paper towels" here in the states.

godofal in reply to orion4713111May 29, 2010. 1:23 PM

is a paper towel, i live in the netherlands where we call it a kitchen roll as well (well, in dutch ofc XD )

gzaloprgm in reply to orion4713111May 16, 2010. 8:35 PM

Tell me if you managed to paint a PCB, I tried with this method and the tint went to the paper...

killersquirel11 says: Jun 25, 2010. 10:14 PM

Does the marker rub off at all on your fingers?

cliffyd says: Jun 4, 2010. 12:57 PM

Just did this diy on my latest pcb, looks great! Thanx for the tip......cliffyboy

amando96 says: Apr 22, 2010. 8:13 AM

But the copper is still out in the open...

icecreamterror (author) in reply to amando96Apr 22, 2010. 9:21 AM

Yes, this is not to be mistaken with solder mask.

To solder mask at home, you can paint on PEBEO acrylic inks used to paint on glass, then bake.

Ipodfan414 says: Apr 20, 2010. 1:41 PM

Where do you get PCBs?

icecreamterror (author) in reply to Ipodfan414Apr 20, 2010. 3:30 PM

If you mean where are the PCB from the main photo?
They \re from the lovely people at http://sonodrome.co.uk/ who came up with this technique.

gzaloprgm says: Apr 17, 2010. 8:10 PM

Hmm. It isn't working. When I rub the pcb with acetone the tint dissapears and the pcb stays normal. Should I let the tint dry some hours?

agis68 says: Apr 17, 2010. 4:06 AM

simple genius. Ive made it and also I used some Vitro colors. Its more stonger than marker and more easily.

Thanx for the idea dude....5/5

zack247 says: Apr 14, 2010. 11:02 PM

wow. never knew that. this'll come in handy! have you tried it with multiple colors yet? i want to know if the colors would blend or not before i try

roadieflip says: Apr 14, 2010. 3:33 PM

I figured how to do this a while ago without actually realising it. I accidentally got ink into my bottle of acetone and threw it away when I had my boards go streaky. I never even thought of using it to colour my boards.

Great idea. Saves messing about with clothes dye and heat.