Be Specific
The more detail you provide, the better the results:Provide Context
Tell Trace about your constraints:- Target manufacturer (e.g., “I’m ordering from JLCPCB”)
- Assembly method (e.g., “through-hole only, I’m hand-soldering”)
- Board constraints (e.g., “must fit in a 50mm x 30mm enclosure”)
- Budget considerations (e.g., “use common, cheap components”)
Ask Questions
Use Ask mode to learn before building:- “How does a buck converter work?”
- “What capacitor values do I need for this LDO?”
- “Is this circuit correct for driving a relay?”
- “What’s the difference between LDO and switching regulators?”
Iterate
Build your design incrementally:- Start with the core circuit
- Ask Trace to add protection (reverse polarity, ESD)
- Add indicators (power LED, status LEDs)
- Optimize component selection for your manufacturer
Request Modifications
You can refine designs after generation:- “Change R3 to 470Ω”
- “Move U2 closer to the connector”
- “Route the power traces wider”
- “Add a test point on the 3.3V rail”
Attach Context
Drag and drop files into the chat to give Trace additional context:- Datasheets — Attach a component datasheet and ask Trace to implement the recommended application circuit
- Images — Drop in a photo of a hand-drawn schematic, a reference design screenshot, or a board layout for Trace to analyze
- Specifications — Attach a requirements document or design spec and have Trace build to those constraints
- BOMs — Share an existing bill of materials to check availability or find alternatives