---
title: "Clean Ground Planes on DIY Boards"
description: "If you're making your own PCB with the toner transfer method, you might find that getting nice clean ground planes is difficult. John on twitter (@…"
canonical: "https://www.baldengineer.com/clean-ground-planes-on-diy-boards.html"
author: "James Lewis"
date: "2015-01-15T15:14:41Z"
lastmod: "2022-04-04T20:47:30Z"
categories: ["hardware-design"]
tags: []
---

# Clean Ground Planes on DIY Boards


If you're making your own PCB with the toner transfer method, you might find that getting nice clean ground planes is difficult. John on twitter (@ [johngineer](https://twitter.com/johngineer "John on Twitter")) realized a simple, but effective method.

[![john_diy_pcb_tip](/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/john_diy_pcb_tip-e1420568013700.png)](/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/john_diy_pcb_tip.png)

Use a hatch pattern for your planes and then fill in the squares with a Sharpie. Simple, but effective. The paper detaches easier and the etch comes out cleaner.

For help on creating ground planes in EAGLE, [check out this video tutorial I put together](/eagle-ground-plane-polygon-fills.html "EAGLE:  Ground Plane (Polygon) Fills").