4 Coloring in Layout

There are several ways to color shapes in the layout. Shapes can be colored manually, as described in Coloring in Layout, or automatically using the multiple patterning color engine. In track-based routing, shapes are colored based on their position relative to colored tracks, as described in Track-Based Coloring. Coloring information is saved with the data OpenAccess multi-patterning format and restored when the data is reloaded.

Several Virtuoso tools can be used to color shapes and view coloring in Layout:

Palette Assistant
- Creating Colored Shapes
- Visibility and Selectability of Colored Data
Property Editor
- Colored Data Inspection
- Methods to Change Color of Existing Shapes
- Color Locking
Dynamic Selection Assistant
- Colored Data Inspection
Multiple Patterning Toolbar
- Showing and Hiding Color
- Methods to Change Color of Existing Shapes
- Color Shifting
- Recolor Selected Colors
- Color Locking
- Removing Color from Shapes
Show Selection Info Toolbar
- Colored Data Inspection
Virtuoso Space-based Router

For an overview of this feature, see Basic Interactive (Manual) Coloring.

The advanced coloring features are available only when the multiple patterning color engine is enabled and are dependent on the coloring method (interactive or managed).

Table -1 Advanced Coloring Features (Color Engine ON)
Feature	Interactive	Managed
Hierarchical Coloring of Connected Shapes	Automatic	Automatic
Automatic Color Shifting	no	Yes, based on same-mask constraint settings

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Virtuoso Multi-Patterning Technology User GuideProduct Version IC23.1, November 2023

4

Coloring in Layout

Table -1 Advanced Coloring Features (Color Engine ON)

Virtuoso Multi-Patterning Technology User Guide
Product Version IC23.1, November 2023