The Use Of Photo Plotters
In the last post we looked at the general use of lasers. This post specifies on photo plotters and their use in industry.
Photo plotting is the process of exposing a latent image on a media using a light source under computer control. The image is exposed on materials such as high contrast monochromatic photographic film. It is then processed in a film processor.
Photo plotters are primarily used in the production of printed circuit boards, however due to their versatility in creating images they are also used in specialized graphic arts.
The most recent advancement photo plotting technology is the LDI (laser direct imaging) machine. These machines utilise a high power laser or Xenon lamp to directly expose photoresist on a coated substrate instead of exposing photographic film. This eliminates the handling of photographic film.
Photo plotting originated in the 1960’s with early machines utilising xenon flash lamps. The lamps exposed the image onto a photosensitive glass plate.