Image Technology, Inc. is a mask manufacturer in Palo Alto, CA.  Jim Quinn
might be able to point you in the right direction.  He can be reached at:

jimq@image-tec.com

Best regards,

Klaus
Karl Suss America, Inc.


----- Original Message -----
From: Marc A. Unger 
To: 
Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2000 4:57 PM
Subject: Conversion to "Gerber data"


>
> Hi All -
>
> I've been using imagesetter output (i.e. Scitex or AGFA) for
quick-and-cheap
> photomasks.  Imagesetters can give you up to 4000 dpi (i.e. ~ 6 micron)
> resolution, and they take bitmap images (i.e. .bmp, .tif, etc.) for input.
>
> Recently I've been investigating the use of photoplotters, which are used
> in the PCB industry.  These can apparently give you up to 8000 dpi
> (and I've heard of 16000 dpi), _but_ they require Gerber data as their
> input.
>
> Does anyone know an easy way to convert from bitmap data (i.e. .tif) to
> Gerber data?  Failing that, what's the easiest way to make mask patterns
> and get Gerber data?  I.e. is there a _good_ piece of software for mask
> layout, one that is cheap and easy to use?  I don't need much
"intelligence"
> from the program - i.e. it doesn't need to generate multiple mask sets for
> drag-and-drop DRAM cells, for instance - since our layouts are relatively
> uncomplicated compared to (say) microprocessors;  I'd much prefer software
> that was easy to use.
>
> I'll summarize responses back to the list.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Marc Unger
> Mycometrix, Inc.
>
>