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The 3D Viewer provides photorealistic visualization of your PCB design, showing components, copper layers, soldermask, and silkscreen in three dimensions.

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Overview

The 3D Viewer helps you:
  • Verify component placement and orientation
  • Check mechanical clearances
  • Identify assembly issues
  • Generate marketing renders
  • Export 3D models (STEP, VRML)
  • Present designs to stakeholders

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Opening the 3D Viewer

1

From PCB Editor

Press Alt+3 or click the 3D Viewer icon in the toolbar
2

Standalone

Tools → 3D Viewer from Project Manager

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Interface Components

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Rendering Modes

Fast interactive rendering:
  • Real-time navigation
  • Smooth rotation and zoom
  • Quick updates
  • Lower quality but faster
  • Good for design work

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Appearance Panel

Control visibility and appearance:
Show/hide individual layers:
  • Copper layers (F.Cu, B.Cu, Inner layers)
  • Soldermask (F.Mask, B.Mask)
  • Silkscreen (F.Silks, B.Silks)
  • Paste layers
  • Board body
  • Adhesive layers
Filter component visibility:
  • Through-Hole: Traditional components
  • SMD: Surface mount devices
  • Virtual: Non-physical components
  • Not in POS file: Components not placed
  • DNP: Do Not Populate items
Visual settings:
  • Show bounding boxes
  • Show navigator (orientation widget)
  • Show axes
  • Grid display and spacing
  • Orthographic vs perspective projection

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Mouse Controls

Rotate

Left mouse button + drag
  • Orbit around board
  • Trackball-style rotation

Pan

Middle button + drag or Shift + left button
  • Move view horizontally/vertically
  • Parallel to screen

Zoom

Mouse wheel or Right button + drag
  • Scroll to zoom in/out
  • Drag right button up/down

Center

Middle button double-click
  • Center view on board
  • Reset zoom

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Keyboard Shortcuts

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Preset Views

Save and recall custom viewpoints for quick navigation

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Using Viewports

1

Set Desired View

Navigate to the view you want to save
2

Save Viewport

View → Viewports → Add Viewport
  • Assign a name
  • Stores camera position and orientation
3

Recall Viewport

Select from viewport menu or use Ctrl+Tab switcher

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Rendering Options

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Material Settings

Configure in Preferences:
  • Soldermask: Color, transparency, finish
  • Silkscreen: Color, opacity
  • Copper: Finish (bare, HASL, ENIG, etc.)
  • Board substrate: FR4 color

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Anti-Aliasing

Higher anti-aliasing improves image quality but increases render time
Quality Levels:
  • Disabled: Fastest, jagged edges
  • 2x SSAA: Good balance
  • 4x SSAA: High quality
  • 8x SSAA: Maximum quality (slow)

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Grid and Measurements

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Grid Display

Grid Types:
  • No Grid: Clean view
  • 10mm Grid: Coarse reference
  • 5mm Grid: Medium spacing
  • 2.5mm Grid: Fine spacing
  • 1mm Grid: Very fine detail
Use grid to estimate component spacing and board dimensions

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Origin Indicator

Shows board coordinate system:
  • X-axis: Red
  • Y-axis: Green
  • Z-axis: Blue

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Exporting 3D Models

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STEP Export

1

Open Export Dialog

File → Export → STEP
2

Configure Options

  • Include components: Full 3D assembly
  • Board only: Just PCB substrate
  • Override footprint models: Use alternatives
  • Coordinate origin: Board center or drill origin
  • Units: mm or inch
3

Export

Save .step, .stp, or .iges file

STEP

Industry standard 3D CAD format:
  • Full parametric geometry
  • Import to mechanical CAD
  • Enclosure design
  • Assembly modeling

VRML

Web-friendly 3D format:
  • Colored meshes
  • Smaller file size
  • Web viewers
  • Game engines

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Alternative Export Formats

Also available:
  • GLB: 3D graphics format (glTF binary)
  • BREP: Boundary representation
  • XAO: XML-based CAD format
  • PLY: Polygon file format
  • STL: Triangle mesh (3D printing)

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Component 3D Models

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Model Sources

KiCad ships with thousands of 3D models:
  • Standard components
  • Common packages
  • Connectors
  • Mechanical parts
Add your own 3D models:
  • STEP files (.step, .stp)
  • WRL files (.wrl) - VRML format
  • Assign in footprint editor
  • Configure position and rotation
Download from:
  • Manufacturer websites
  • Component distributors
  • GrabCAD
  • 3D content library

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Troubleshooting Missing Models

Components without 3D models appear as bounding boxes
Solutions:
  1. Update library paths in Preferences → Configure Paths
  2. Re-link footprint 3D models
  3. Download missing models
  4. Create placeholder models

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Advanced Features

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Bounding Box Mode

Show component outlines instead of full 3D models for faster rendering
Useful for:
  • Quick mechanical clearance checks
  • Board planning
  • Performance on slow systems
Orientation indicator showing:
  • Current view direction
  • Axis labels (X, Y, Z)
  • Click to snap to standard views

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Camera Clipping

Adjust near and far clipping planes:
  • See inside the board
  • Focus on specific areas
  • Remove far geometry

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Quality Settings

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Raytracing Parameters

Performance vs Quality:
  • Low recursion depth
  • Few shadow rays
  • Minimal reflections
  • Quick updates
Use OpenGL mode while designing, switch to raytracing for final renders

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Screenshot and Animation

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Taking Screenshots

1

Set View

Position camera for desired composition
2

Copy to Clipboard

Edit → Copy 3D Image or Ctrl+C
3

Paste

Into documentation, presentations, or image editor
Screenshot captures the current window size. Maximize for best resolution.

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Best Practices

Regular Checks: View board in 3D frequently during design to catch issues early
Component Heights: Verify tall components don’t interfere with enclosure
Connector Orientation: Ensure connectors face correct direction for cable access
Mechanical Clearance: Check component spacing for assembly tools
Model Accuracy: Verify 3D model dimensions match datasheets for critical components

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Presentation Tips

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Professional Renders

Lighting

Adjust light balance:
  • Brighter top light for PCB visibility
  • Side lights for depth
  • Subtle ambient for detail

Background

Set neutral background:
  • White for technical docs
  • Gray for web
  • Transparent for overlays

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Multiple Views

Create a set of standard views:
  • Top isometric (default)
  • Bottom isometric
  • Front elevation
  • Side elevation
  • Detail views of connectors

PCB Editor

Design the PCB layout

PCB Editor

Assign 3D models to footprints

Manufacturing Output

Generate manufacturing files

3D Models

Manage 3D model collections