square and that each 34 spot 34 must be irradiated three times at one fifth of the repetition rate of the laser to effect satisfactory removal of the paint or the like to be removed for this case the laser beam is simply caused in conventional manner to sequentially irradiate five portions or 34 spots 34 upon completing irradiation of the fifth consecutive portion the laser beam is caused to return to the first portion or a point one third the lineal distance of the first portion and then to move to five consecutive portions upon completion of this phase the laser beam is caused to again return to the first portion or to return to a point two thirds of the lineal distance of the first portion and then to again move on to five consecutive portions for five pulses for the case here assumed it may now be readily seen that each 34 spot 34 will receive three pulses at the desired one fifth the repetition rate of the laser one the other hand if for example it is desired that each spot receive three pulses as noted above this may be accomplished by providing linear motion of the laser beam so that for each pulse the laser beam is.