The 2.5D view is purpose-built to strike a balance between insight and performance, offering clear advantages over both traditional 2D and the more intensive full 3D rendering.
The 25D View is a visualization mode in KLayout that extrudes 2D shapes into pseudo-3D objects based on predefined height and thickness parameters. Unlike a full 3D CAD engine, it does not simulate complex conformal depositions or advanced topography. Instead, it stacks layers vertically like a cake. Why Use 2.5D Instead of Full 3D?
No external renderer needed – it’s real-time and lightweight.
In a 6-layer metal process, verifying that a signal path from Metal 1 to Metal 4 uses the correct sequence of vias is tedious in 2D. The 2.5D view makes it visually obvious if a via is missing or misaligned, as the vertical pillar connecting two plates will appear broken.
: Drag with the right mouse button to change the viewing angle (azimuth and elevation). klayout 25d view
: You can enable this option in the viewer settings to only show the 3D extrusion of parts you have selected in the 2D layout. 5. Troubleshooting Script not showing in menu
Note: KLayout’s exact menu names and plugin availability can vary by version; check the View and Layer dialogs for 3D/2.5D options or install community plugins that add stackup editors.
In MEMS design, use the 25D view to check if etched release channels will accidentally breach neighboring structural walls.
It’s not full 3D, but it’s fast, native, and surprisingly useful for quick sanity checks. Instead, it stacks layers vertically like a cake
Designers can verify the vertical distance and relative positions between layers.
If the view looks flat, ensure your Technique (under File > Setup ) has the "Thickness" and "Z-Offset" attributes filled out for your active technology.
Depending on the specific script or plugin you use, the execution varies slightly:
Integrated circuit (IC) design demands absolute precision. While traditional 2D layout views show the horizontal boundaries of components, they fail to represent the vertical stackup of a chip. This gap can lead to critical design oversights. In a 6-layer metal process, verifying that a
"There it is," he whispered. A small overlap between the waveguide and the metal heater that looked fine in 2D was clearly a collision in the 2.5D world. The metal was sitting too low, threatening to short the optical signal.
For more information on mastering KLayout, including using the 2.5D viewer, visit the official KLayout website.
You are essentially looking at a . This is incredibly powerful for: