diff --git a/src/footprints/alps.js b/src/footprints/alps.js
index ad98514..24ae5b3 100644
--- a/src/footprints/alps.js
+++ b/src/footprints/alps.js
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ module.exports = {
         ${p.at /* parametric position */}
         
         ${'' /* footprint reference */}
-        (fp_text reference "${p.ref}" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
-        (fp_text value "" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
+        (fp_text reference "${p.ref}" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) ${p.ref_hide} (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
+        (fp_text value "" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) hide (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
         
         ${''/* corner marks */}
         (fp_line (start -7 -6) (end -7 -7) (layer Dwgs.User) (width 0.15))
diff --git a/src/footprints/choc.js b/src/footprints/choc.js
index 13a7122..c225d8f 100644
--- a/src/footprints/choc.js
+++ b/src/footprints/choc.js
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ module.exports = {
         ${p.at /* parametric position */}
 
         ${'' /* footprint reference */}
-        (fp_text reference "${p.ref}" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
-        (fp_text value "" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
+        (fp_text reference "${p.ref}" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) ${p.ref_hide} (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
+        (fp_text value "" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) hide (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
 
         ${''/* corner marks */}
         (fp_line (start -7 -6) (end -7 -7) (layer Dwgs.User) (width 0.15))
diff --git a/src/footprints/diode.js b/src/footprints/diode.js
index 02825c9..fbb99e9 100644
--- a/src/footprints/diode.js
+++ b/src/footprints/diode.js
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ module.exports = {
         ${p.at /* parametric position */}
 
         ${'' /* footprint reference */}
-        (fp_text reference "${p.ref}" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
-        (fp_text value "" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
+        (fp_text reference "${p.ref}" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) ${p.ref_hide} (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
+        (fp_text value "" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) hide (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
         
         ${''/* diode symbols */}
         (fp_line (start 0.25 0) (end 0.75 0) (layer F.SilkS) (width 0.1))
diff --git a/src/footprints/jstph.js b/src/footprints/jstph.js
index e8a2e43..96769b1 100644
--- a/src/footprints/jstph.js
+++ b/src/footprints/jstph.js
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ module.exports = {
         ${p.at /* parametric position */}
 
         ${'' /* footprint reference */}
-        (fp_text reference "${p.ref}" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
-        (fp_text value "" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
+        (fp_text reference "${p.ref}" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) ${p.ref_hide} (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
+        (fp_text value "" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) hide (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
 
         (fp_line (start -2.25 0.25) (end -2.25 -1.35) (layer ${p.param.side}.SilkS) (width 0.15))
         (fp_line (start -2.25 -1.35) (end -2.95 -1.35) (layer ${p.param.side}.SilkS) (width 0.15))
diff --git a/src/footprints/mx.js b/src/footprints/mx.js
index 981cfd5..c63f3f0 100644
--- a/src/footprints/mx.js
+++ b/src/footprints/mx.js
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ module.exports = {
       ${p.at /* parametric position */}
 
       ${'' /* footprint reference */}
-      (fp_text reference "${p.ref}" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
-      (fp_text value "" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
+      (fp_text reference "${p.ref}" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) ${p.ref_hide} (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
+      (fp_text value "" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) hide (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
 
       ${''/* corner marks */}
       (fp_line (start -7 -6) (end -7 -7) (layer Dwgs.User) (width 0.15))
diff --git a/src/footprints/pad.js b/src/footprints/pad.js
index eb5e69b..de51da9 100644
--- a/src/footprints/pad.js
+++ b/src/footprints/pad.js
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ module.exports = {
             ${p.at /* parametric position */}
 
             ${'' /* footprint reference */}
-            (fp_text reference "${p.ref}" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
-            (fp_text value "" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
+            (fp_text reference "${p.ref}" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) ${p.ref_hide} (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
+            (fp_text value "" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) hide (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
             
             ${''/* SMD pads */}
             ${layout(p.param.front, 'F')}
diff --git a/src/footprints/promicro.js b/src/footprints/promicro.js
index b7eacde..339986e 100644
--- a/src/footprints/promicro.js
+++ b/src/footprints/promicro.js
@@ -16,14 +16,14 @@ module.exports = {
       ${p.at /* parametric position */}
 
       ${'' /* footprint reference */}
-      (fp_text reference "${p.ref}" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
-      (fp_text value "" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
+      (fp_text reference "${p.ref}" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) ${p.ref_hide} (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
+      (fp_text value "" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) hide (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
     
       ${''/* illustration of the (possible) USB port overhang */}
-      (fp_line (start -19.304 -3.556) (end -14.224 -3.556) (layer Dwgs.User) (width 0.15))
-      (fp_line (start -19.304 3.81) (end -19.304 -3.556) (layer Dwgs.User) (width 0.15))
+      (fp_line (start -19.304 -3.81) (end -14.224 -3.81) (layer Dwgs.User) (width 0.15))
+      (fp_line (start -19.304 3.81) (end -19.304 -3.81) (layer Dwgs.User) (width 0.15))
       (fp_line (start -14.224 3.81) (end -19.304 3.81) (layer Dwgs.User) (width 0.15))
-      (fp_line (start -14.224 -3.556) (end -14.224 3.81) (layer Dwgs.User) (width 0.15))
+      (fp_line (start -14.224 -3.81) (end -14.224 3.81) (layer Dwgs.User) (width 0.15))
     
       ${''/* component outline */}
       (fp_line (start -17.78 8.89) (end 15.24 8.89) (layer F.SilkS) (width 0.15))
diff --git a/src/footprints/reset.js b/src/footprints/reset.js
index bb13b9c..490290b 100644
--- a/src/footprints/reset.js
+++ b/src/footprints/reset.js
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ module.exports = {
 
         ${p.at /* parametric position */}
         ${'' /* footprint reference */}
-        (fp_text reference "${p.ref}" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
-        (fp_text value "" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
+        (fp_text reference "${p.ref}" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) ${p.ref_hide} (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
+        (fp_text value "" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) hide (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
         
         ${'' /* outline */}
         (fp_line (start 2.75 1.25) (end 1.25 2.75) (layer ${p.param.side}.SilkS) (width 0.15))
diff --git a/src/footprints/rgb.js b/src/footprints/rgb.js
index 6fc8ca1..0213fd7 100644
--- a/src/footprints/rgb.js
+++ b/src/footprints/rgb.js
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ module.exports = {
             ${p.at /* parametric position */}
 
             ${'' /* footprint reference */}
-            (fp_text reference "${p.ref}" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
-            (fp_text value "" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
+            (fp_text reference "${p.ref}" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) ${p.ref_hide} (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
+            (fp_text value "" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) hide (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
 
             (fp_line (start -1.75 -1.75) (end -1.75 1.75) (layer ${p.param.side}.SilkS) (width 0.15))
             (fp_line (start -1.75 1.75) (end 1.75 1.75) (layer ${p.param.side}.SilkS) (width 0.15))
diff --git a/src/footprints/slider.js b/src/footprints/slider.js
index f1b203f..b5de4e8 100644
--- a/src/footprints/slider.js
+++ b/src/footprints/slider.js
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ module.exports = {
             ${p.at /* parametric position */}
 
             ${'' /* footprint reference */}
-            (fp_text reference "${p.ref}" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
-            (fp_text value "" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
+            (fp_text reference "${p.ref}" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) ${p.ref_hide} (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
+            (fp_text value "" (at 0 0) (layer F.SilkS) hide (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27) (thickness 0.15))))
             
             ${'' /* outline */}
             (fp_line (start 1.95 -1.35) (end -1.95 -1.35) (layer ${p.param.side}.SilkS) (width 0.15))
diff --git a/src/pcbs.js b/src/pcbs.js
index 4fd8dda..c3a547a 100644
--- a/src/pcbs.js
+++ b/src/pcbs.js
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@ const footprint = exports._footprint = (config, name, points, point, net_indexer
 
     // reference
     parsed_params.ref = component_indexer(parsed_params.param.class || '_')
+    parsed_params.ref_hide = 'hide' // TODO: make this parametric?
 
     return fp.body(parsed_params)
 }