A linear evaporation source suited for the production of CIGS thin films for depositing a metal or semi-metal source material on a substrate, the evaporation source comprising: a crucible comprising: a base; a plurality of walls surrounding an interior region of the crucible, the plurality of walls including a first end wall (202 1) spaced apart from a second end wall (202 2) in a first direction, wherein the interior region includes a first outer region (204 1), a second outer region (204 2) and a central region (204 3), the central region (204 3) disposed between the first outer region (204 1) and the second outer region (204 2); and each of the first outer region (204 1), the second outer region (204 2), and the central region (204 3) has a same width in the first direction; and a first heater disposed in the base, the first heater configured to provide heat at a higher rate to the first outer region (204 1) than to the central region (204 3), whereby said first heater is configured as a heating cable substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said linear evaporation source. a crucible comprising: a base; a plurality of walls surrounding an interior region of the crucible, the plurality of walls including a first end wall (202 1) spaced apart from a second end wall (202 2) in a first direction, wherein the interior region includes a first outer region (204 1), a second outer region (204 2) and a central region (204 3), the central region (204 3) disposed between the first outer region (204 1) and the second outer region (204 2); and each of the first outer region (204 1), the second outer region (204 2), and the central region (204 3) has a same width in the first direction; and a first heater disposed in the base, the first heater configured to provide heat at a higher rate to the first outer region (204 1) than to the central region (204 3), whereby said first heater is configured as a heating cable substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said linear evaporation source. a base; a plurality of walls surrounding an interior region of the crucible, the plurality of walls including a first end wall (202 1) spaced apart from a second end wall (202 2) in a first direction, wherein the interior region includes a first outer region (204 1), a second outer region (204 2) and a central region (204 3), the central region (204 3) disposed between the first outer region (204 1) and the second outer region (204 2); and each of the first outer region (204 1), the second outer region (204 2), and the central region (204 3) has a same width in the first direction; and the interior region includes a first outer region (204 1), a second outer region (204 2) and a central region (204 3), the central region (204 3) disposed between the first outer region (204 1) and the second outer region (204 2); and each of the first outer region (204 1), the second outer region (204 2), and the central region (204 3) has a same width in the first direction; and a first heater disposed in the base, the first heater configured to provide heat at a higher rate to the first outer region (204 1) than to the central region (204 3), whereby said first heater is configured as a heating cable substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said linear evaporation source.