Artwork Conversion Software offers an IC plotting service. Send us GDSII or CIF data and we can send you a plot. The plots are in color and can be any size you specify. We turn around most jobs in 24 hours, unless you need to approve a sample for layer/color assignments in advance.

Detailed Instructions
Price and Delivery
Customer Comments

What to Send Us

How to Send It

Large files are best sent by ftp to our anonymous ftp server in Santa Cruz:

UNIX Example

Suppose you have the file called bigfoot.gds to plot and also a text file called bigfoot.txt that contains plotting instructions. Your email address is johnboy@indiana.com. You can send them via ftp from you workstation as follows:

ftp ftp.artwork.com    
or 
ftp 128.242.120.83

login: anonymous
password: johnboy@indiana.com
> cd pub/put_in_here
> binary
> put bigfoot.txt
> put bigfoot.gds.gz
> bye

Our ftp connection is T1 line and can move 5-10 MB per minute under optimum conditions. If you cannot use ftp, mail a CD the Santa Cruz office.

How We Do It

We rasterize the chip data into a color bitmap on a Sun Sparc using our own IC plotting software, GDSPLOT. GDSPLOT writes a compressed raster file that is sent to the plotter.

The Plotter

We use an HP 1050C E-size color inkjet plotter. This plotter has a 36 inch wide carriage and is roll fed. We send raster directly to the plotter; there is no limit on how complex the plot data can be. Maximum printable width is 35 inches. Very large plots are made from multiple strips.

Comparison to Versatec Plots

The inkjet plotter has 300 dpi resolution. Versatec electrostatics print at 200 or 400 dpi. Most electrostatic plots we have seen are plotted at 200 dpi to save time. The inkjet paper is heavier than the paper used on electrostatics and the inks are denser and brighter. Inks are water based and do fade with exposure to UV so don't mount them near a window unless you use a UV filter. However electrostatic plots also exhibit fading and change of color over time.

Confidentiality

Your data is treated with the utmost of care. We will sign your non- disclosure agreement prior to receipt of your data. Original CD's are returned with the plot, and we erase your data from our hard drives at the completion of the project.