Lasers are also being used as art tools. These include "light paintings" where laser beams are flasehed to create patterns. These are presented at light shows, planetariums, or as enhancements at music concerts.

     Lasers have also enabled music and videos to be stored on disks that hold much more information with clearer reception and longevity then normal video and audio tapes. These laser video, computer, and audio disks have revolutionized the entertainment industry. Computer disks are able to store information because the laser is collimated nad coherent allowing the beam to be focused on a tiny point. The laser can store the information it has by transfering it onto light-sensative film that can be read again and again by the laser at later times and be transfered into the computer. Information is stored on laser video and audio disks by that on them is a reflective coating that has a patter entched into it. A laser beam reflects off the pits onto a light-sensitive transmitter that converts the patter of reflections to electronic signas which are converted into sound.

     Thanks to lasers that art of holography has had a chance to be developed. Holography is a form of light-produced art. In order to produce a hologram a bright, coherent, and monochromatic light source is needed. A laser is perfect for this task. To make the hologram, a laser beam is passed through a mirror, reflected off an object, and then passed onto a photographic plate. At the same time a different bean is reflected directly to the photograpic plate. The interference between these two beams as they meat causes a three dimensional effect.

     Lasers are also used in the special effects department. The laser transfers the effects created on a computer onto blank film. This is accomplished with much more precisoin then by the old method of just photographing the effects off the computer screen.