planarize

Planarize is a verb meaning to make something planar, i.e., to remove height differences and curvature so that the surface lies in or closely approximates a single geometric plane. It can also refer to the corresponding noun, planarization, the process of achieving such flatness.

In materials science and semiconductor manufacturing, planarization is essential because multi-layer deposition relies on a uniform surface. Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) is the common method to achieve global planarization of silicon wafers, removing topography created by previous steps. Other methods include grinding or lapping and chemical etching, depending on materials and required tolerances.

In printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication and advanced packaging, planarization processes help create a smooth base before copper deposition or dielectric layering, improving layer adhesion and planarity across features. Planarization layers may be applied to flatten the substrate surface and reduce curvature that could affect subsequent patterning or metallization.

In computer graphics and CAD, planarization can refer to projecting a set of vertices, points, or curves onto a common plane to enforce planarity, or fitting a best-fit plane to a point cloud or mesh and moving vertices accordingly. This is used in modeling, scanning, and reverse engineering workflows.

In graph drawing and network visualization, planarization refers to methods for transforming a graph toward planarity, such as removing or redrawing edges to reduce crossings. The term is context-dependent, spanning manufacturing, geometry processing, and data visualization domains.