Laser read-write system for the production of engravings

In a system for forming an image of an object on a writing surface:

• means for producing a reading beam and a writing beam for scanning of the object and the writing surface respectively, modulator means for varying the intensity of the writing beam, beam combiner means for directing the reading beam and the modulated writing beam generally together with a small divergence along a common path, beam separator means including a deflector positioned between the diverging beams with first and second surfaces for reflecting the respective beams toward the object and the writing surface, a reflector for reflecting one of the diverging beams back toward the other before the beams impinge upon the surfaces of the deflector, scanning means positioned along the common path for diverting the combined beams across a predetermined portion of the path to effect synchronous scanning of the object and the writing surface by the separated beams, and means responsive to energy received from the object as it is scanned by the reading beam for conditioning the modulator means to vary the intensity of the writing beam to form an image of the object on the writing surface.