JOINT VENTURE	9 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2011
Joint Venture [Abstract]
JOINT VENTURE	NOTE 3 - JOINT VENTURE On May 5, 2006, Photronics and Micron Technology, Inc. ("Micron") entered into the MP Mask joint venture (“MP Mask”), which develops and produces photomasks for leading-edge and advanced next generation semiconductors. As part of the formation of the joint venture, Micron contributed its existing photomask technology center located at its Boise, Idaho, headquarters to MP Mask and Photronics invested $135 million in exchange for a 49.99% interest in MP Mask (to which $64.2 million of the original investment was allocated), a license for photomask technology of Micron, and certain supply agreements. This joint venture is a variable interest entity ("VIE") (as that term is defined in the Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") ) primarily because all costs of the joint venture will be passed on to the Company and Micron through purchase agreements they have entered into with the joint venture. In accordance with accounting guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) in June 2009, on a quarterly basis the Company reassesses whether its interest in MP Mask gives it a controlling financial interest in this VIE. The purpose of this quarterly reassessment is to identify the primary beneficiary (which is defined in the ASC as the entity that consolidates a VIE) of the VIE. As a result of the reassessment in the current quarter, the Company determined that Micron is still the primary beneficiary of the VIE, by virtue of its greater voting power, if necessary, within MP Mask's Board of Managers, thereby giving it the power to direct the activities of MP Mask that most significantly impact its economic performance, including its decision making authority in the ordinary course of business and its purchasing the majority of products produced by the VIE. The Company has utilized MP Mask for both high-end IC photomask production and research and development purposes. MP Mask charges its variable interest holders based on their actual usage of its facility. MP Mask separately charges for any research and development activities it engages in at the requests of its owners. The Company recorded cost of sales of $6.5 million and $14.8 million and research and development expenses of $0.2 million and $0.7 million during the three and nine month periods ended July 31, 2011. Cost of sales of $1.8 million and $4.5 million and research and development expenses of $0.2 million and $0.7 million were recorded during the three and nine month periods ended August 1, 2010. MP Mask is governed by a Board of Managers, appointed by Micron and the Company. Since MP Mask's inception, Micron, as a result of its majority ownership, has held majority voting power on the Board of Managers. The voting power held by each party is subject to change as ownership interests change. Under the MP Mask joint venture operating agreement, the Company may be required to make additional capital contributions to MP Mask up to the maximum amount defined in the operating agreement. However, should the Board of Managers determine that further additional funding is required, MP Mask shall pursue its own financing. If MP Mask is unable to obtain its own financing, it may request additional capital contributions from the Company. Should the Company choose not to make a requested contribution to MP Mask, its ownership percentage may be reduced. During the three and nine month periods ended July 31, 2011, the Company increased its investment in MP Mask by $0.5 million and $10.7 million, respectively, primarily related to capital calls requested by MP Mask. The Company did not make any contributions to MP Mask during the three and nine month periods ended August 1, 2010, and did not receive any distributions from MP Mask during its first three quarterly periods of fiscal 2011 or 2010. The Company's investment in the VIE, which represents its maximum exposure to loss, was $72.5 million at July 31, 2011 and $61.1 million at October 31, 2010. These amounts are reported in the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets as "Investment in joint venture". The Company recorded income from its investment in the VIE of $0.6 million in the nine month period ended July 31, 2011, and recorded no income from its investment in the three month period ended July 31, 2011, or in the three and nine month periods ended August 1, 2010. Income from the VIE is included in "Investment and other income, net" in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

NOTE 3 - JOINT VENTURE

On May 5, 2006, Photronics and Micron Technology, Inc. ("Micron") entered into the MP Mask joint venture (“MP Mask”), which develops and produces photomasks for leading-edge and advanced next generation semiconductors. As part of the formation of the joint venture, Micron contributed its existing photomask technology center located at its Boise, Idaho, headquarters to MP Mask and Photronics invested $135 million in exchange for a 49.99% interest in MP Mask (to which $64.2 million of the original investment was allocated), a license for photomask technology of Micron, and certain supply agreements.

This joint venture is a variable interest entity ("VIE") (as that term is defined in the Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") ) primarily because all costs of the joint venture will be passed on to the Company and Micron through purchase agreements they have entered into with the joint venture. In accordance with accounting guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) in June 2009, on a quarterly basis the Company reassesses whether its interest in MP Mask gives it a controlling financial interest in this VIE. The purpose of this quarterly reassessment is to identify the primary beneficiary (which is defined in the ASC as the entity that consolidates a VIE) of the VIE. As a result of the reassessment in the current quarter, the Company determined that Micron is still the primary beneficiary of the VIE, by virtue of its greater voting power, if necessary, within MP Mask's Board of Managers, thereby giving it the power to direct the activities of MP Mask that most significantly impact its economic performance, including its decision making authority in the ordinary course of business and its purchasing the majority of products produced by the VIE.

The Company has utilized MP Mask for both high-end IC photomask production and research and development purposes. MP Mask charges its variable interest holders based on their actual usage of its facility. MP Mask separately charges for any research and development activities it engages in at the requests of its owners. The Company recorded cost of sales of $6.5 million and $14.8 million and research and development expenses of $0.2 million and $0.7 million during the three and nine month periods ended July 31, 2011. Cost of sales of $1.8 million and $4.5 million and research and development expenses of $0.2 million and $0.7 million were recorded during the three and nine month periods ended August 1, 2010.

MP Mask is governed by a Board of Managers, appointed by Micron and the Company. Since MP Mask's inception, Micron, as a result of its majority ownership, has held majority voting power on the Board of Managers. The voting power held by each party is subject to change as ownership interests change. Under the MP Mask joint venture operating agreement, the Company may be required to make additional capital contributions to MP Mask up to the maximum amount defined in the operating agreement. However, should the Board of Managers determine that further additional funding is required, MP Mask shall pursue its own financing. If MP Mask is unable to obtain its own financing, it may request additional capital contributions from the Company. Should the Company choose not to make a requested contribution to MP Mask, its ownership percentage may be reduced. During the three and nine month periods ended July 31, 2011, the Company increased its investment in MP Mask by $0.5 million and $10.7 million, respectively, primarily related to capital calls requested by MP Mask. The Company did not make any contributions to MP Mask during the three and nine month periods ended August 1, 2010, and did not receive any distributions from MP Mask during its first three quarterly periods of fiscal 2011 or 2010.

The Company's investment in the VIE, which represents its maximum exposure to loss, was $72.5 million at July 31, 2011 and $61.1 million at October 31, 2010. These amounts are reported in the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets as "Investment in joint venture". The Company recorded income from its investment in the VIE of $0.6 million in the nine month period ended July 31, 2011, and recorded no income from its investment in the three month period ended July 31, 2011, or in the three and nine month periods ended August 1, 2010. Income from the VIE is included in "Investment and other income, net" in the condensed consolidated statements of income.