The PCB Tracer workspace with menus, tools, layer controls, and component connectivity
Ever stared at a mystery printed circuit board wondering how signals flow between layers? Maybe you're repairing vintage gear with no schematics, or you need to understand a competitor's design, or you're just curious how that clever circuit actually works. Tracing connections through vias on a multi-layer board is difficult, tedious and error-prone.
PCB Tracer is a browser-based tool that gives you virtual X-ray vision for PCBs. Whether you're reverse engineering an unknown board, troubleshooting a faulty circuit, or documenting repairs, PCB Tracer helps you trace signals, capture measurements, and build a complete picture of your circuit with full connectivity. Load photos of your board's top and bottom, overlay them with adjustable transparency, and annotate every trace, via, pad, and component. In addition, the tool's AI features can generate electronic component objects (from datasheets) and generate comprehensive netlists (by project analysis). Leveraging data and AI is part of the design vision of PCB Tracer and more AI features are under development.
The Problem It Solves
Working with undocumented PCBs or troubleshooting problems are common challenges:
Engineers need to document and understand existing designs for reference
Repair technicians need access to schematics and test results to troubleshoot
Hobbyists want to understand circuits before modifying them
The modern approach typically involves using photo editing or drawing software to trace over PCB images. But generic tools like Photoshop, GIMP, or Inkscape weren't designed for electronics - they don't understand the difference between a via and a pad, can't track electrical connections, and have no concept of component properties or net names.
PCB Tracer is purpose-built for electronics work, designed for typical 2 to 4 layer PCBs (support for a higher layer count is under development). It's designed to be easy to use while maintaining the relationships between components, traces, and connections - so your annotations become useful structured data, not just pixels.
How It Works
PCB Tracer: turn photos into a connected network of data-rich components
Photograph your PCB - top and bottom surfaces, with good lighting
Load both images into the browser-based tool
Overlay with transparency - a "virtual X-ray" with automated slider lets you see through layers
Align and transform - use scale, nudge, rotate and other tools to quickly align images
Annotate everything - draw traces, place pads/vias, add components with properties, designators and connections managed via unique nodeIDs
Let AI create IC objects from datasheets - upload a PDF datasheet and AI extracts key component properties to convert the generic IC from PCB Tracer's component library to a specific IC
Let AI generate netlists - AI analyzes components and connections to generate netlists with logical net names
Let AI help troubleshoot - a feature under development will use AI and the rich dataset to help identify problems
Key Features That Stand Out
Virtual PCB X-Ray and Perspective View Controls
The transparency overlay is a killer feature. Use the automated transparency slider to visualize both layers, making it trivial to follow a signal from a top-side trace, through a via, to the bottom layer and back. Toggle between Top and Bottom views instantly or change the perspective view with simple controls.
14 Built-In Layers for Organized Annotation
The layer system gives you fine-grained control over what you see and edit:
Vias - connection nodes linking PCB layers
Pads (Top/Bottom) - component pads on each layer
Traces (Top/Bottom) - traces on each layer
Components (Top/Bottom) - data-rich objects with designators
Power Buses - support for multiple independent voltage buses
Ground Buses - support for multiple independent ground buses
Test Points - objects to hold measurement data, notes, etc.
Each layer has visibility controls, so you can focus on exactly what you need.
Object-Oriented, Data-Rich Component Management
This isn't just a drawing tool. Every component you place carries context specific properties:
Library of common components - 55 electronic components plus AI generation of any integrated circuit
Component-specific properties - context-specific, configurable properties for every component
Rollover information - hover over objects for popups showing contextual data
Pin definitions with names - not just dots, but properly defined connection points
Unique node IDs - every pad, via, and pin gets a persistent identifier
A Notes field on each object instance allows flexible data capture
Automatic designator generation (U1, R1, C1...)
This data-rich approach means your annotations aren't just pixels - they're structured information that the tool, and AI models, can analyze and utilize in new and innovative ways.
NodeID-Based Connections
Every connection point (vias, pads, component pins, power, ground, test points) has a unique NodeID. When you draw traces, the system tracks exactly which nodes connect to which. Traces snap to vias and pads, quickly assuring connections. PCB Tracer's managed connections enables network analysis not possible with photo/drawing applications.
Hover your pointer over any via, pad or component and get context-specific information that includes pin number, pin name, net name, and component properties.
AI Assisted Component Identification
Having trouble identifying a component? The Component Identification Assistant helps you identify it:
Provide available information — markings, pin count, package type, dimensions, and an optional photo
AI analyzes the inputs and cross-references known components to produce confidence-rated identification candidates
A second AI verification pass reviews the results before presenting them, improving reliability
Results are delivered as a downloadable PDF report including availability status and purchase links
A built-in reference page of 451 semiconductor manufacturer logos helps decode manufacturer markings
AI-Powered IC Object Creation
Start with the generic IC from the component library. Then feed PCB Tracer a PDF datasheet:
AI extracts the IC type, description, pin names, pin numbers, pin types, package info, and more
The generic IC object is converted into a specific IC and populated with the extracted data
Component properties are filled in (voltage ratings, current limits)
Your generic "U1" becomes a fully-documented, 48-pin KSZ8041TL Transceiver
AI-Generated Netlist with Logical Net Names
Once you've annotated your PCB, the AI-based netlist feature can analyze the complete picture:
Examines all components, their properties, and pin names
Traces connections through the NodeID-based connection graph
Generates a netlist with intelligent net naming (not just N$1, N$2...)
Names like "VCC_5V", "CLOCK_IN", "MOTOR_DRIVE" based on connected component pins
Hybrid Net-Centric Netlist Format
PCB Tracer exports a JSON circuit description optimized for both human investigation and AI-assisted analysis. The format combines net-centric organization with component-centric detail:
Bidirectional navigation - trace signals from net-to-components or component-to-nets
AI-ready structure - enables pattern matching, anomaly detection, and signal flow analysis
Signal, power and ground paths - preserved for intelligent fault detection
Comparison-ready - compare traced boards against reference designs or parallel circuits
A reconstructed circuit with AI generated netnames
AI-Generated Schematics (beta)
Once a netlist has been generated, PCB Tracer can use AI to create an electronics schematic directly from the netlist:
Generates a schematic as an SVG file using the AI-assigned logical net names
Schematics are saved to a schematics/ directory within your project folder
Previous schematics are automatically moved to a schematics/history/ subdirectory
This feature will automatically improve as AI models improve
An AI-generated schematic from a traced PCB
Smart Via and Pad Placement with Automated Component Connections
Placing 48 vias or pads for a DIP or a QFP is tedious. PCB Tracer offers automated placement patterns: Linear, 2-Sided and 4-Sided. Click two points and the tool distributes their placement automatically. Highlight the vias or pads along with the component and click the 'Connect' button to instantly connect.
Built-In Spreadsheet
A searchable spreadsheet to store your notes, test results, observations, problem symptoms, etc.
Auto Save with History
Never lose your work. The Auto Save feature saves your project to local storage at regular, configurable intervals. If you need to go back, use the Restore from History feature to recover a previous version.
Getting Started
No installation required. Open the tool in a Chromium-based browser such as Chrome, Edge, or Brave:
The project is under active development with regular releases. The goal is to continuously add cutting-edge features while maintaining an intuitive and enjoyable user experience.
Please send your feature requests or bug reports via the Help menu.
If you're into PCB reverse engineering, troubleshooting, or repair, give it a try.
About the Developer
Philip Giacalone is a retired aerospace engineer and software developer who spent his career developing engineering solutions for spacecraft propulsion systems, autonomous drones, and Silicon Valley software startups. He built PCB Tracer to solve a problem: reverse engineering and troubleshooting circuit boards is unnecessarily tedious when using photo editing software. He wanted something purpose-built for electronics that is easy to use and that understands and maintains the relationships between components, traces, and connections.
