Systems and methods for securing fabric, paper, and film samples for analysis by laser ablation

A method for securing a thin, solid sample for laser ablation, the method comprising:

• securing a thin, solid sample with a sample holder system, the sample holder system configured to hold the thin, solid sample in a taut configuration between a piston and a sample holder base;
• introducing a coating to the sample holder system to cover at least a portion of the thin, solid sample in the taut configuration;
• ablating a blank sample holder system with the laser ablation system to provide a blank sample, the blank sample holder system including the coating and having no portions of the thin, solid sample thereon;
• transferring the sample holder system to a laser ablation system;
• ablating at least a portion of the thin, solid sample in the taut configuration with the laser ablation system to provide an ablated sample;
• analyzing the content of the blank sample via a sample analysis system;
• generating a signal corresponding to the content of the blank sample;
• analyzing content of the ablated sample via the sample analysis system;
• generating a signal corresponding to the content of the ablated sample;
• and
• subtracting the signal corresponding to the content of the blank sample from the signal corresponding to the content of the ablated sample.