Abstract: A method for fabricating heat emitting plates permits such plates to be designed to have a wide variety of thermal emission characteristics. A metal plate is coated with dielectric material on both sides and then heated to 300.degree. to 400.degree. C. at which point it is sprayed by a molten conductive metal. The thickness of the molten conductive metal on the dielectric coating can be varied along the length of the plate by varying the speed of the mutual displacement between the spraying means and the plate during the spraying operation. A protective pattern is painted or otherwise deposited on the sprayed metal which is then subjected to a corrosive bath to eliminate all of the sprayed metal except that which is overlaid by the protective coating. The protective coating is then removed leaving a heating element of desired configuration to achieve the desired thermal emission characteristics of the plate.