My First Real PCB Artwork 🐺

Turning circuit boards into storytelling canvases—where every trace, layer, and silkscreen becomes part of the art

Hey everyone!I’m excited to share my latest PCB art project, where I’ve combined electronics and design into a unique piece of functional art. Let’s dive in!

If you have been following me you'll probably know that I am into pcb artworks, but eventhough I have done some works but none of them where a proper pcbart work I would say because none of them actually utilised different layers available to a pcb, because I didnt knew how to use the layers properly inorder to create different shades to the pcb board but in this one, I would say is a proper pcb artwork

Supplies

Hardware components

1. PCBWay Custom PCB
2. 555 Timers Ultra Low Voltage
3. led smd

Software apps and online services

1. KiCad

Hand tools and fabrication machines

1. Soldering iron (generic)

Step 1:

For this project, I designed those coyote-shaped pcb artwork, the circuit is a simple 555 timer circuit which operates in the astable mode

This one is different. This Coyotee-themed PCB is what I consider my first real PCB art piece. It’s the first time I truly used the layers — copper, solder mask, and silkscreen — to create depth, contrast, and shading, just like an actual canva

Step 2: The Design and Fabrication Process

I designed this PCB using Kicad. One of the fun parts was arranging the traces and silkscreen to form the final artwork. Because arranging these layers in an order gives you different shades to your pcb.

The stacked layers create a beautiful color palette which starts with the darkest layer, the masked fiberglass. The layers get lighter with the masked copper and exposed tinned copper layers. In order to create artwork from PCBs I will take advantage.

Step 3: Layers Color Identification

Step 4: PCB Fabrication -- PCBWay

Step 5: Soldering and Assembly

Now comes the exciting part—bringing this PCB to life! I carefully soldered the components to make it both artistic and functional. I have made the smd led soldered upside down purposefully to the board so that it can shine through the fr4 material.This was my first time making a board completely using smd component. This was my first time making a board completely using smd component

I have made a design error, I have been trying to figure out the what the problem was, I actually spend a coupleof days, and while I was checking continuity on the board

only in one part there was no continuity, between this capacitor and the led, as I looked into it I found that the copper pour for the gnd wasnt complete there(i used copper pour for gnd connection).

This happened because the copper traces the way I arranged the components actually isolated that area from getting the copper pour, I understood my mistake, you learn from mistake.

The warning would have shown in kicad but accidentally I think I ignored it because there will be showing other errors related to the silkscreen, edges etc.. would be always showing when designing our artworks as this isnt conventional so I accidentally ignored it. Any way I studied a lesson the hard way

Step 6: The Final Look

I think it turned out pretty cool. I’m always experimenting with new PCB designs, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on this on