Klayout 25d View Jun 2026

: A compass icon on the ground plane indicates the center of rotation and scaling. For detailed API documentation, refer to the D25View Class Reference on the official KLayout website sample script

To "generate a piece" or see your design in this view, you typically need to follow these steps: 1. Enable the 2.5D Feature klayout 25d view

It uses the existing Layer Properties file ( .lyp ) or a specific technology file to determine the height and color of each layer. Why Use It? : A compass icon on the ground plane

Run this script, and your 2.5D view configures itself instantly. Why Use It

: The viewer works best for small areas (around 100k polygons max). If your layout is huge, zoom into a specific "piece" or area before running the script. Navigation : Right-click + Drag : Rotate the view. Middle-click + Drag : Pan. Mouse Wheel : Zoom.

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.

About the author: This article is written for IC, MEMS, and PCB layout professionals using KLayout. For further reading, consult the official KLayout documentation under “2.5D View” and explore the user forum threads on setting realistic layer heights for your specific technology node.