PCB-Gold Plating before or After Mask?

[fabmeister]

We have always had a note on our fab drawings requiring gold plating to be applied AFTER the solder mask. Cost issues aside, is there a reason why gold plating first and applying the solder mask second would be a bad idea?
Any horror stories!

 

[MP1]

I have never heard of anyone plating "after" solder mask. I cannot think of a good reason to do that. At best, your plating is a cosmetic in this case.

MP

 

[gogo2520]

Hello fabmeister
    I thought they only gold plated contact points, are you sure its plated or could it be painted.
                                      gogo

 

[MP1]

gogo,
Look at a computer motherboard. All traces and pads are gold plated.

MP