A starter board for use in the preparation of a printed circuit board comprises a rigid board 1 of electrically insulating material having extending through the board a multiplicity of holes arranged in a pattern of rows and columns. A layer 3 of metal of high electrical conductivity overlies one or each of the major surfaces of the board and has on its exposed surface a multiplicity of discrete islands 4 of etch-resistant material overlying or bounding holes in the board and a multiplicity of discrete tracks 7 of etch-resistant material extending between neighbouring islands in each column (or row). A circuit of a desired pattern can be formed by interconnecting selected discrete islands 4 and discrete tracks 7 with strips of etch-resistant material, removing all exposed metal by means of an etchant, and treating the or each surface to remove the etch-resistant material and leave on the surface the required circuit. <IMAGE>
