A laser ablation system comprising: a laser; a camera positioned relative to the laser; a sample chamber providing a support surface for carrying a sample; a motion control system configured to position the laser on the sample on the support surface during a laser ablation procedure, and means for software-based image recognition wherein the laser ablation system is configured to: set an ablation pattern including multiple intended laser locations for a sample during a scan placement process during which, for each of the multiple intended laser locations, the laser ablation system is configured to: position the sample relative to an intended laser location of said multiple intended laser locations on the sample with the motion control system; save position coordinates for the intended laser location; save an image taken with the camera for the intended laser location; and initiate an experiment during which for each of the multiple intended laser locations, the laser ablation system is configured to: position the laser location relative to the sample to a current position based on the saved coordinates of a chosen one of the multiple intended laser locations with a saved image; compare a current image of the current position taken with a camera with the saved image for the chosen intended laser location; and determine a position error based on the comparison; wherein, if the position error is not within a window of acceptability, the laser ablation system is configured to apply an offset movement of the laser location relative to the sample with the motion control system based on the position error to correct for the position error and repeat the comparing and determining steps, and, if the position error is within the window of acceptability, the laser ablation system is configured to fire a laser beam upon the laser location. a laser; a camera positioned relative to the laser; a sample chamber providing a support surface for carrying a sample; a motion control system configured to position the laser on the sample on the support surface during a laser ablation procedure, and means for software-based image recognition wherein the laser ablation system is configured to: set an ablation pattern including multiple intended laser locations for a sample during a scan placement process during which, for each of the multiple intended laser locations, the laser ablation system is configured to: position the sample relative to an intended laser location of said multiple intended laser locations on the sample with the motion control system; save position coordinates for the intended laser location; save an image taken with the camera for the intended laser location; and initiate an experiment during which for each of the multiple intended laser locations, the laser ablation system is configured to: position the laser location relative to the sample to a current position based on the saved coordinates of a chosen one of the multiple intended laser locations with a saved image; compare a current image of the current position taken with a camera with the saved image for the chosen intended laser location; and determine a position error based on the comparison; set an ablation pattern including multiple intended laser locations for a sample during a scan placement process during which, for each of the multiple intended laser locations, the laser ablation system is configured to: position the sample relative to an intended laser location of said multiple intended laser locations on the sample with the motion control system; save position coordinates for the intended laser location; save an image taken with the camera for the intended laser location; and position the sample relative to an intended laser location of said multiple intended laser locations on the sample with the motion control system; save position coordinates for the intended laser location; save an image taken with the camera for the intended laser location; and initiate an experiment during which for each of the multiple intended laser locations, the laser ablation system is configured to: position the laser location relative to the sample to a current position based on the saved coordinates of a chosen one of the multiple intended laser locations with a saved image; compare a current image of the current position taken with a camera with the saved image for the chosen intended laser location; and determine a position error based on the comparison; position the laser location relative to the sample to a current position based on the saved coordinates of a chosen one of the multiple intended laser locations with a saved image; compare a current image of the current position taken with a camera with the saved image for the chosen intended laser location; and determine a position error based on the comparison; wherein, if the position error is not within a window of acceptability, the laser ablation system is configured to apply an offset movement of the laser location relative to the sample with the motion control system based on the position error to correct for the position error and repeat the comparing and determining steps, and, if the position error is within the window of acceptability, the laser ablation system is configured to fire a laser beam upon the laser location.