In imaging, a strong, directional red light—with an output of up to 632.8 nanometers—used to generate images on red-sensitive film, paper, printing plates or press cylinders. A helium-neon laser is occasionally used in lieu of an argon laser, as helium-neon lasers are deemed more stable and less expensive than argon lasers, although the latter do have their advantages in that the blue-sensitive paper used with argon lasers—unlike the red-sensitive paper used in conjunction with helium-neon lasers—can be handled safely in red or yellow light. A helium-neon laser is abbreviated HeNe, from the chemical symbols for helium and neon, respectively.
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