Stencil lithography

Stencil lithography is like drawing with a stencil. Do you know what a stencil is? It’s a sheet of paper or plastic that has shapes cut out of it. So, when you paint over the stencil, the shapes that were cut out show up on the surface you’re painting on.

In stencil lithography, instead of paper or plastic, they use a special material that can be cut very precisely. And instead of paint, they use a different material called a "photoresist." Basically, they put the material with the stencil on top of the surface they want to make a pattern on. Then they shine light on it, which hardens the parts of the photoresist that were exposed to the light.

After that, they remove the stencil material and wash away the parts of the photoresist that didn't harden. This leaves behind a pattern made up of the hardened photoresist. Then, they can use the pattern to create all kinds of things like tiny computer chips or even parts for machines!

So, that's how stencil lithography works, like drawing with a stencil and paint, just on really small and precise things!