Users must submit their mask files using the LCO on-line Slit Mask Manager. For IMACS, it is only necessary to submit the .SMF files created by the task "maskgen". Please do not use any form of compression on the uploaded files.

You can monitor the status of your masks using the mask DATABASE.

Instructions for designing masks and downloading software to do this are found here.  Click here to read about an important change in N&S mask design.

We are continuing to have problems in getting slit mask files for cutting IMACS slit masks on time, which causes great difficulties for the mountain staff schedules, and in paying overtime. No institution is doing well on this -- here is the current breakdown:

Institution % submitted < 28 days before run
----------- --------------------------------
Arizona                 66% (100 of 151 files)
Carnegie               87% (103 of 118 files)
Harvard-CfA          79% (59 of 75 files)
MIT                       74% (29 of 39 files)
Michigan               47% (17 of 36 files)
Toronto                 98% (44 of 45 files)
Chile                     86% (12 of 14 files)

Please be aware that beginning July 1, 2006, the new policy is as follows:

• All slit mask files must be submitted at least 6 weeks in advance of an observing run.
• Marc Leroy must give permission for files to be submitted between 3-6 weeks before a run. We cannot guarantee that masks will be cut in this interval.
• NO masks will be cut less than 3 weeks before the deadline.