You can define two types of metallic traces in EM.Picasso: '''PEC Traces''' and '''Conductive Sheet Traces'''. PEC traces represent infinitesimally thin (zero thickness) planar metal objects that are deposited or metallized on or between substrate layers. PEC objects are modeled by surface electric currents. Conductive sheet traces, on the other hand, represent imperfect metals. They have a finite conductivity and a very small thickness expressed in project units. A surface impedance boundary condition is enforced on the surface of conductive sheet objects.
Â
{{Note|Two or more PEC or conductive sheet traces can coexist at the same Z-coordinate. In this case, the Layer Stack-up Settings dialog shows these trace rows stacked up on top of each other between their common top and bottom substrate layers.}}
'''Slot Traces''' are used to model cut-out slots and apertures in PEC ground planes. Planar slot objects are always assumed to lie on an infinite horizontal PEC ground plane with zero thickness, which is not explicitly displayed in the project workspace and its presence is implied. They are modeled by surface magnetic currents. When a slot is excited, tangential electric fields are formed on the aperture, which can be modeled as finite magnetic surface currents confined to the area of the slot. In other words, instead of modeling the electric surface currents on an infinite PEC ground around the slot, one can alternatively model the finite-extent magnetic surface currents on a perfect magnetic conductor (PMC) trace. Slot (PMC) objects provide the electromagnetic coupling between the two sides of an infinite PEC ground plane.