Abstract: The invention firstly comprises a method of ablation processing including a step of ablating a region of a substrate (1) by way of a laser beam (3) characterized by a further step of removing debris ablated from the region (1) by way of a flow of a fluid (7), namely a gas or vapour, a liquid or a combination of these, wherein the flow of fluid (7) is directed to flow over the region so as to entrap debris and thereafter to remove the entrapped debris from the region by directing the flow of fluid with any entrapped debris away from region along a predetermined path (6) avoiding subsequent deposition of entrapped debris on the substrate.

Abstract: The invention firstly comprises a method of ablation processing including a step of ablating a region of a substrate (1) by way of a laser beam (3) characterised by a further step of removing debris ablated from the region (1) by way of a flow of a fluid (7), namely a gas or vapour, a liquid or a combination of these, wherein the flow of fluid (7) is directed to flow over the region so as to entrap debris and thereafter to remove the entrapped debris from the region by directing the flow of fluid with any entrapped debris away from region along a predetermined path (6) avoiding subsequent deposition of entrapped debris on the substrate.