A method for making a nozzle plate for an inkjet printer by laser ablating a nozzle plate material. The method includes the steps of determining a plurality of desired nozzle hole locations, ablating the area of the nozzle plate material surrounding the desired locations of the holes to a predetermined depth to provide a plurality of flow paths, ablating a nozzle through the full thickness of the nozzle plate material at each desired nozzle hole location, wherein unablated material surrounds each nozzle hole to provide a chamber, and ablating a throat region through a portion of the unablated material surrounding each nozzle hole so that each chamber is in flow communication with at least one flow path outside of the chamber.
