Disclosed is a copper foil—for printed circuit boards—which is especially excellent in soft etching property and also superior in such properties as heat discoloration resistance, rust-proofing and solder-ability. The copper foil for printed circuit boards comprising a first layer formed by applying 12 to 50 mg/m2 of a sulfur-contained zinc alloy containing 0.1 to 2.5 percent by weight of sulfur on the surface on at least one side of the copper foil and a second layer formed of a chromate layer on the first layer by applying 0.5 to 2.5 mg/m2 of chromium and, if necessary, 1.5 to 6 mg/m2 of phosphorus. The process of treating the surface of copper foil for printed circuit boards comprising the steps of forming the first layer composed of a sulfur-contained zinc alloy by electrolysis by dipping at least the surface on one side of the copper foil in a solution containing a zinc compound and a sulfur compound and forming the second layer composed of chromate by electrolysis by dipping said first layer in a solution containing a chromium compound, or a chromium compound and a phosphorus compound.