Editing Photoplotter (section)

A '''photoplotter''' is a specialized electro-opto-mechanical machine that exposes a latent image on a medium, usually high-contrast monochromatic ([[black-and-white]]) [[photographic film]], using a light source being controlled by a [[computer]].<ref name="Clark2012">{{cite book|author=Raymond H. Clark|title=Handbook of Printed Circuit Manufacturing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hCAyBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA17|date=6 December 2012|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-94-011-7012-3|pages=17–}}</ref> Once the film has been exposed, it must be [[photographic processing|processed]] before it is ready for use. Photoplotters are used primarily for industrial production of [[printed circuit board|printed circuit boards (PCBs)]] and [[integrated circuit]] (IC) packaging.

In the PCB industry, photoplotting is the first step of making [[photolithography]] masks for printed circuit boards.  These masks are called ''photoplots'' and are limited in resolution by the technology in use; in 1998, photoplots with resolvable details of 2.5 [[micrometre|μm]] or more were possible.<ref>{{cite book|title=Electronic Products|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v8YpAQAAMAAJ|year=1989|publisher=United Technical Publications}}</ref> Integrated circuits are made in a similar fashion utilizing ''[[photomask]]s'' with sub-micrometer feature sizes; photomasks are traditionally made by photoreducing photoplotter output.<ref>{{cite book|title=Electronic Packaging and Production|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lMMpAQAAMAAJ|year=1987|publisher=Cahners Pub.}}</ref> 

Other application of photoplotters include chemical milling and specialized graphic arts.<ref name="Sharpe1994">{{cite book|author=Carill Sharpe|title=Kempe's Engineers Year-book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y3NRAAAAMAAJ|year=1994|publisher=Morgan Bros.}}</ref>