# Different shades of grey for part legs

**URL:** <https://forum.fritzing.org/t/different-shades-of-grey-for-part-legs/6066>\
**Category:** wishlist\
**Created:** [September 19, 2018, 11:14am UTC](https://forum.fritzing.org/t/different-shades-of-grey-for-part-legs/6066 "2018-09-19T11:14:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![THX1138](https://forum.fritzing.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/ed8c4c/32.png) [@THX1138](https://forum.fritzing.org/u/THX1138)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 11:14am UTC](https://forum.fritzing.org/t/different-shades-of-grey-for-part-legs/6066/1 "2018-09-19T11:14:29Z")

</div>

It would be cool if different parts had legs in differing shades of grey so it’s easier to tell which legs belong to which component when they cross on bread- and strip-board.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![microMerlin](https://forum.fritzing.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@microMerlin](https://forum.fritzing.org/u/microMerlin)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 7:37pm UTC](https://forum.fritzing.org/t/different-shades-of-grey-for-part-legs/6066/2 "2018-09-19T19:37:14Z")

</div>

Shorten the leads to reduce crossing as much as possible. If component layout does not allow that, shorten the legs anyway, then add a wire from the leg to the actual connection point. You have control of the colour for wires. Plus wires can be made into curves instead of just straight lines. A little experimenting can make the layout easier to follow.

Internally, the color of the legs in the component graphic files is ‘fixed’ to a standard. I guess it would be possible to add an option in the code to override that for a placed component. I’ve never seen the need in the boards I have laid out. I don’t think I have ever even used the technique to use a wire to extend a leg. Adjusting component position and existing leg lengths have always been enough to keep things organized and clear.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![THX1138](https://forum.fritzing.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/ed8c4c/32.png) [@THX1138](https://forum.fritzing.org/u/THX1138)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 8:00pm UTC](https://forum.fritzing.org/t/different-shades-of-grey-for-part-legs/6066/3 "2018-09-19T20:00:42Z")

</div>

Using extra wires might be more reasonable in a breadboard but I want to plan my circuits before they go on strip board and I generally want them to be as small as possible which couldn’t be the case if I don’t compact the circuit as much as possible. It’s rare that I make anything where size is not a concern. I doubt this feature will ever get looked at since development isn’t happening much but I wanted to submit the suggestion anyway.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![vanepp](https://forum.fritzing.org/user_avatar/forum.fritzing.org/vanepp/32/4426_2.png) [@vanepp](https://forum.fritzing.org/u/vanepp)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 12:31am UTC](https://forum.fritzing.org/t/different-shades-of-grey-for-part-legs/6066/4 "2018-09-21T00:31:35Z")

</div>

This would be difficult to implement. There are a limited number of colors available and a vast combination of parts that would need different colors. The only way I can see making this work would be to be able to edit the color of a pin (which means changing the svg on the fly which isn’t currently possible AFAIK.) That said there is a project to redo fritizing as a web app in javascript and they may consider this when the project gets further along.

Peter