Combine the 2.5D view with KLayout's cross-section tool. While a cross-section gives you a literal 2D slice along a single line, the 2.5D view allows you to see how that slice interacts with adjacent structures, making it much easier to diagnose complex design rule violations (DRC). 3. Optimizing Render Performance
While incredibly useful, the 2.5D view is a visualization tool, not a heavy-duty CAD engine. For smooth performance, KLayout typically handles up to about 100,000 polygons
This guide will provide a deep dive into the 2.5D view, from its core definition and practical applications to the intricacies of creating and managing these visualizations. Whether you are debugging a complex wiring issue or presenting a design to a team, this feature will transform your analysis workflow. klayout 25d view
KLayout's 2.5D (often called "25D") view provides a simple and effective way to visualize layered semiconductor layouts with an embossed, height-coded representation that helps designers inspect layer stacking, overlaps, and process-related thickness information.
(or 25D) is a compromise. It simulates depth by extruding 2D polygons vertically and allowing perspective or orthographic rotation, but typically restricts navigation to a limited range (e.g., tilting the view, but not going "under" the substrate). The model remains fundamentally 2D geometry with assigned layer heights and materials. Combine the 2
Review your height ( z_start ) parameters in your setup file. Ensure that Metal 2 is defined with a higher baseline than Metal 1.
In KLayout, the 2.5D view is a specialized visualization mode that extrudes the flat, 2D polygons of your layout into 3D blocks with a specified vertical thickness. It's called "2.5D" because, unlike a true 3D model, it does not simulate complex process topologies like sloped sidewalls. Instead, it treats each layer as a simple, flat extrusion, creating a "blocks world" representation of your chip. KLayout's 2
Use the 2.5D view to verify that vias properly connect between metal layers. Conclusion