AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON APRIL 4, 1996

     ==========================================================================

                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                 -------------------
                                       FORM S-8
                                REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                        UNDER
                              THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                 -------------------

                                   PHOTRONICS, INC.
                (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

                   CONNECTICUT                              06-0854886
         (State or other jurisdiction of                 (I.R.S. Employer
          incorporation or organization)              Identification Number)

                              1061 EAST INDIANTOWN ROAD
                               JUPITER, FLORIDA  33477
                           (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE OF
                      REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

                                   PHOTRONICS, INC.
                                1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                               (FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN)

                               JEFFREY P. MOONAN, ESQ.
                      SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL
                                   PHOTRONICS, INC.
                              1061 EAST INDIANTOWN ROAD
                               JUPITER, FLORIDA  33477
                                    (407) 747-4163
                 (NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE
                  NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                                 -------------------



                           CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
     ========================================================================
                                         PROPOSED     PROPOSED
                                         MAXIMUM       MAXIMUM
                            AMOUNT       OFFERING     AGGREGATE     AMOUNT OF
     TITLE OF SECURITIES    TO BE         PRICE       OFFERING     REGISTRATION
       TO BE REGISTERED   REGISTERED    PER SHARE       PRICE         FEE(1)
     -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Common stock,
        par value
        $.01   . . .    600,000 shares    $22.00     $13,200,000      $4,552
     =========================================================================

     (1)  Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(h) of the General Rules and
          Regulations under the Securities Act of 1933.

     ==========================================================================

     

                                        PART I

                 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS



     ITEM 1

        Plan Information*



     ITEM 2

        Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information*






     --------------------
     *  Information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a)
        prospectus is omitted from the Registration Statement in accordance with
        Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Note to
        Part I of Form S-8.

     

                                       PART II

                  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


     ITEM 3  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
             ---------------------------------------

        The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Securities and
     Exchange Commission are incorporated by reference in the Registration
     Statement.

        1)   The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
             ended October 31, 1995; 

        2)   The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
             quarter ended January 31, 1996; 

        3)   The description of the Common Stock which is contained in the
             Registrant's Form 8-A, filed on March 5, 1987 (File #0-15451) under
             Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
             including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of
             updating such description.

        All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
     13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
     amended, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates
     that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all
     securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
     reference herein and to be a part hereof from the respective dates of
     filing of such documents.

     ITEM 4  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
             -------------------------

        Not applicable.


     ITEM 5  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSELS
             ---------------------------------------

        Not applicable.


     ITEM 6  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
             -----------------------------------------

        The Connecticut Stock Corporation Act (the "Act") provides for
     indemnification of directors, officers, shareholders, employees and agents
     of a corporation.  Under the Act, a corporation is required to indemnify a
     director against judgments and other expenses of litigation when he is sued
     by reason of his being a director in any proceeding brought, other than on
     behalf of the corporation, if a director is successful on the merits in
     defense, or acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be
     in the best interests of the corporation, or in a criminal action or
     proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. 
     In a proceeding brought on behalf of a corporation (a derivative action), a
     director is entitled to be indemnified by the corporation for reasonable
     expenses of litigation, if the director is entitled to indemnification for
     both derivative and nonderivative actions, if a court determines, upon
     application, that the director is fairly and reasonably entitled to be
     indemnified.

        Article Ninth of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation limits
     directors' monetary liability for actions or omissions made in good faith,
     which are later determined to be a breach of their duty as directors of the
     Company.  Article Ninth does not eliminate or limit a director's liability
     for breaches of fiduciary duty for actions or omissions which (i) involved
     a knowing and culpable violation of law; (ii) showed a lack of good faith
     and conscious disregard for his duty as that director under circumstances
     where the director was aware that his actions created an unjustifiable risk
     of serious injury to the Company; (iii) constituted a sustained and
     unexcused pattern of inattention that amounted to an abdication of his
     duty; or (iv) involved the improper distribution of Company assets to its
     shareholders or an improper loan to an officer, director or 5% shareholder.
     Article Ninth also does not preclude suits for equitable relief, such as an
     injunction, nor would it shield directors from liability for violations of
     the Federal securities laws.  Moreover, Article Ninth does not limit the
     liability of directors for any act or omission that occurred prior to the
     date the Article became effective and does not limit the potential
     liability of officer-directors in their capacity as officers.

        The Company has purchased directors' and officers' liability insurance
     covering certain liabilities incurred by its directors in connection with
     the performance of their duties.

     ITEM 7  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED
             -----------------------------------

        Not applicable.

     ITEM 8  EXHIBITS
             --------

        The following Exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:

        4(a)   The 1996 Stock Option Plan adopted by the Board of Directors of
               the Registrant on January 29, 1996 and approved by the
               stockholders on March 20, 1996.

          5    Opinion of Reid & Priest LLP.

        23(a)  Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP. 

        23(b)  Consent of Reid & Priest LLP (included in Exhibit 5).

          25   Power of Attorney (see page 6).

     ITEM 9  UNDERTAKINGS
             ------------

     A)   The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

        (1)  To file during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
             a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement: 

          i)   To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
               Securities Act of 1933; 

          ii)  To reflect in the Prospectus any facts or events arising after
               the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most
               recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or
               in the aggregate, represents a fundamental change in the
               information set forth in the Registration Statement; 

          iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
               distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration
               Statement or any material change to such information in the
               Registration Statement; 

          provided, however, that paragraphs (A)(l)(i) and (A)(l)(ii), above, do
          --------  -------
          not apply if the Registration Statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8,
          and the information required to be included in a post-effective
          amendment by those paragraphs is contained in the periodic reports
          filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
          Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in
          the Registration Statement.

        (2)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
             any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
             termination of the Offering. 

        (3)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
             Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
             deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the
             securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at
             that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
             thereof.

     B)   The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
          determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each
          filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or
          Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where
          applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report
          pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that
          is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be
          deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
          offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
          shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     C)   Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
          Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and
          controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing
          provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the
          opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification
          is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore,
          unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against
          such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
          incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
          Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
          proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
          person in connection with the securities being registered, the
          Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has
          been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
          appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
          it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be
          governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

     

                                      SIGNATURES



        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
     Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
     meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused
     this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
     thereunto duly authorized in the Town of Brookfield, State of Connecticut
     on March 29, 1996.


                                          PHOTRONICS, INC.



                                        By:   /s/ Constantine S. Macricostas
                                          -----------------------------------
                                          Constantine S. Macricostas
                                          Chairman of the Board and
                                          Chief Executive Officer



                                  POWER OF ATTORNEY


        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
     below constitutes and appoints Michael J. Yomazzo and Jeffrey P. Moonan,
     and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with
     full power of substitution and resubstitution, to act, without the other,
     for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to
     sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this
     Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto,
     and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
     Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and
     each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act
     and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as
     full to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
     ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any
     of them, their substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be
     done by virtue hereof.

     

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 , this
     registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in
     the capacities and on the dates indicated.



              SIGNATURE                                            DATE



      /s/ Constantine S. Macricostas                          March 29, 1996
     ----------------------------------------
     Constantine S. Macricostas
     Chairman of the Board of Directors
     Chief Executive Officer
     (Principal Executive Officer)



      /s/ Michael J. Yomazzo                                  March 29, 1996
     ----------------------------------------
     Michael J. Yomazzo
     Director
     President



      /s/ Robert J. Bollo                                     March 29, 1996
     ----------------------------------------
     Robert J. Bollo
     Vice President/Finance
     Chief Financial Officer
     (Principal Financial/Accounting Officer)



      /s/ Masahiro Fujii                                      March 29, 1996
     ----------------------------------------
     Masahiro Fujii
     Director



      /s/ Walter M. Fiederowicz                               March 29, 1996
     ----------------------------------------
     Walter M. Fiederowicz
     Director



      /s/ Joseph A. Fiorita, Jr.                              March 29, 1996
     ----------------------------------------
     Joseph A. Fiorita, Jr.
     Director

     


                                    EXHIBIT INDEX


     Exhibit      Description
     -------      -----------

       4(a)       The 1996 Stock Option Plan adopted by the 
                  Board of Directors of the Registrant on 
                  January 29, 1996 and approved by the
                  stockholders on March 20, 1996.

       5          Opinion of Reid & Priest LLP.

      23(a)       Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP. 
      

                                                 Exhibit 4(a)


                        PHOTRONICS, INC.

                     1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN



1)   PURPOSES OF THE PLAN
     --------------------

The purposes of this 1996 Stock Option Plan are:

(a)  to attract and retain the best available personnel for
     positions of substantial responsibility (both as Employees and
     as Outside Directors) in respect of the business of
     PHOTRONICS, INC., and any current subsidiary or any subsidiary
     which PHOTRONICS, INC. may hereafter organize or acquire;

(b)  to provide additional incentive to such personnel; and

(c)  to promote the success of the business.


2)   DEFINITIONS
     -----------

As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

(a)  "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of PHOTRONICS, INC.

(b)  "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
     amended.

(c)  "Compensation Committee" shall mean a committee of the Board
     composed of at least two (2) members of the Board who may be
     "disinterested persons" as defined in Rule 16b-3(c)(2)
     promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
     amended (the "Act"), or any successor provision thereto.

(d)  "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock of the Company.

(e)  "Company" shall mean PHOTRONICS, INC.

(f)  "Outside Director" shall mean a member of the Company's Board
     of Directors who is not also an Employee.

(g)  "Disability" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
     22(e)(3) of the Code or in any successor provision thereto.

(h)  "Employee" shall mean a regular, salaried common law employee
     of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(i)  "Option" shall mean a stock option granted pursuant to the
     Plan.

(j)  "Option Agreement" shall mean the Stock Option Agreement
     entered into between the Company and an Employee or Outside
     Director upon the grant of an Option.

(k)  "Option Price" shall mean the exercise price determined
     pursuant to Section 4 hereof for the Shares to be issued
     pursuant to any Option granted under the Plan.

(l)  "Optioned Stock" shall mean the stock subject to an Option or
     Restricted Stock Award granted pursuant to the Plan.

(m)  "Optionee" shall mean an Employee or Outside Director who
     receives an Option or Restricted Stock Award.

(n)  "Performance Stock Option" means an Option which is subject to
     conditions which render it a Performance Stock Option under
     applicable law.

(o)  "Plan" shall mean this 1996 Stock Option Plan.

(p)  "Restricted Stock Award" means a restricted stock award
     granted pursuant to the Plan.

(q)  "Restricted Stock Award Agreement" means the Restricted Stock
     Award Agreement entered into between the Company and an
     Employee or Outside Director upon the grant of a Restricted
     Stock Award.

(r)  "Share" shall mean a share of the Common Stock of the Company
     as adjusted in accordance with Section 14 of the Plan.

(s)  "10% Shareholder" shall mean an individual who at the time an
     Option is granted hereunder owns, within the meaning of
     Section 422(b)(6) of the Code, stock possessing more than 10%
     of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of
     the Company or of its parent or subsidiary corporations.


3)   STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
     -------------------------

     Subject to the provisions of Section 14 of the Plan, the
maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be optioned and sold
or which may be issued and not subsequently forfeited pursuant to
Restricted Stock Awards under the Plan, is six hundred thousand
(600,000) Shares of the Common Stock of the Company provided, that
no more than ten percent (10%) of the Shares authorized for
issuance under this Plan may be issued pursuant to Restricted Stock
Awards and no more than fifteen percent (15%) of the Shares
authorized for issuance under this Plan may be issued to any one
person during any one calendar year.  Such Shares may be authorized
but unissued or may be treasury shares.

     If an Option should expire or become unexerciseable for any
reason without having been exercised in full or any shares issued
pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award are forfeited, the unpurchased
or forfeited Shares which were subject thereto shall, unless the
Plan shall have been terminated, become available for other
Option(s) or Restricted Stock Awards under the Plan.



4)   ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
     --------------------------

     (a)  PROCEDURE
          The Plan shall be administered by the Board or the
          Compensation Committee.  Members of the Board who are
          either eligible for grants under this Plan or have been
          given grants under this Plan may vote on any matters
          affecting the administration of the Plan or the grant of
          any Options or Restricted Stock Awards pursuant to the
          Plan, except that no such member shall act upon the
          granting of an Option or Restricted Stock Award to
          himself, but any such member may be counted in
          determining the existence of a quorum at any meeting of
          the Board during which action is taken with respect to
          the granting of Options or Restricted Stock Awards to
          him.

     (b)  POWERS OF THE BOARD AND THE COMMITTEE
          Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board or the
          Compensation Committee shall have the authority:
 
          i)   to grant to any eligible Employee or Outside
               Director an Option or Restricted Stock Award, which
               shall be conditioned on the execution by such
               Employee or Outside Director of an Option Agreement
               or Restricted Stock Award Agreement in the form
               approved by the Board or the Committee;

          ii)  to determine the Option Price for any Shares to be
               issued pursuant to an Option granted under the
               Plan, whether an Option is to be a Performance
               Stock Option and the conditions applicable to such
               Options, the conditions applicable to any
               Restricted Stock Award, the Employees or Outside
               Directors to whom and the time or times at which
               Options or Restricted Stock Awards shall be
               granted, to determine the exercise or vesting date
               of Options and Restricted Stock Awards (provided
               that in no event shall more than one-third (1/3) of
               the Options or Restricted Stock Awards included in
               any one grant be exercisable or vest prior to the
               first anniversary of the date of grant and an
               additional one-third (1/3) of such Options or
               Restricted Stock Awards be exercisable or vest on
               each of the second and third anniversaries of the
               date of grant except pursuant to the provisions of
               Section 16, whether the Option shall be a non-
               qualified or an incentive stock option (as defined
               in Section 422 of the Code or any successor
               provision thereto) and the number of Shares to be
               represented by each Option or Restricted Stock
               Award, and the term of each Option which in no
               event shall be more than ten (10) years from the
               date of the grant of the Option (five [5] years in
               the case of an incentive stock option granted to a
               10% owner);

          iii) to interpret the Plan;

          iv)  to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and
               regulations relating to the Plan;

          v)   to determine the terms and provisions of each
               Option granted under the Plan (which need not be
               identical) and, with the consent of the holder
               thereof, to modify or amend each Option or
               Restricted Stock Award; provided, however, that in
               no event may the exercise price of an Option be
               reduced (except pursuant to Section 14) after it is
               issued;

          vi)  subject to the provisions of sub-section (ii),
               above, to accelerate any exercise date of any
               Option or Restricted Stock Award except that the
               exercise date of any Option or Restricted Stock
               Award granted to any director or executive officer
               cannot be accelerated without such holder's consent
               if such acceleration would result in liability
               under Section 16 of the Act, or any successor
               provision thereto;

          vii) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the
               Company any instrument required to effectuate the
               grant of an Option or Restricted Stock Award
               previously granted by the Board or the Compensation
               Committee; and

         viii) to make all other determinations deemed necessary
               or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

     (c)  Effect of Board's or Compensation Committee's Decision
          All decisions, determinations and interpretations of the
          Board or the Compensation Committee shall be final and
          binding on all Optionees and any other holders of any
          Options granted under the Plan.


5)   ELIGIBILITY
     -----------

     Options and Restricted Stock Awards under the Plan may be
granted only to such Employees or to such Outside Directors as the
Board or the Compensation Committee shall select.  An Employee or
Outside Director who has been granted an Option or Restricted Stock
Award may, if he is otherwise eligible, be granted additional
Options or Restricted Stock Awards.  Incentive stock options may be
granted only to an "employee" of the Company, as that term is used
Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.  No
incentive stock option may be granted to a 10% Shareholder unless
the Option Price is at least 110% of the fair market value of such
stock on date of grant and the term of such option does not exceed
five (5) years.



6)   TERM OF PLAN
     ------------

     Subject to the provisions of Section 22 hereof, the Plan shall
become effective on adoption by the Board.  The Plan shall continue
in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated
under Section 18 hereof.


7)   TERM OF OPTION OR RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD
     ----------------------------------------

     Except as provided under Code Section 422(c)(5) with respect
to a 10% Shareholder's incentive stock option and unless of shorter
duration as provided in the terms of an Option or Restricted Stock
Award Agreement, the term of each Option or forfeiture period for
a Restricted Stock Award granted under the Plan shall be determined
by the Board or the Compensation Committee but, in no event, shall
it be for a period in excess of ten (10) years from the date of
grant thereof.


8)   MAXIMUM ALLOTMENT OF OPTIONS
     ----------------------------

     The aggregate fair market value (determined as of the date the
Option is granted) of the Common Stock with respect to which
incentive stock options are exercisable for the first time by any
individual during any calendar year under the Plan and all other
plans of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company
shall not exceed $100,000 or such other amount as is permitted by
the Code.


9)   OPTION PRICE
     ------------

     The Option Price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to any
Option shall be as stated in the Option Agreement and shall be not
less than the greater of (a) the fair market value of such Shares
on date of grant of the Option as determined by the Board or the
Compensation Committee (except that with respect to an incentive
stock option issued to a 10% Shareholder, 110% of the fair market
value), or (b) the par value of such Shares.  Except pursuant to
Section 14, in no event shall the Option Price for an Option be
reduced after it is issued.


10)  EXERCISE OF OPTIONS
     -------------------

     (a)  PROCEDURE FOR EXERCISE
          Any Option shall be exercisable on such terms and
          conditions as are set forth in the Option Agreement.  The
          purchase price of the Shares as to which an Option shall
          be exercised shall be paid in full at the time of
          exercise at the election of the holder of an Option:

          i)   in cash or currency of the United States of
               America;

          ii)  by tendering to the Company shares of the Company's
               Common Stock, then owned by him, having a fair
               market value equal to the cash exercise price
               applicable to the purchase price of the Shares as
               to which an Option is being exercised; or

          iii) partly in cash and partly in shares of the
               Company's Common Stock valued at fair market value.

          Such fair market value shall be determined as of the
          close of the business day immediately preceding the day
          on which the Option is exercised by the Board or the
          Compensation Committee, whose determination shall be
          final and conclusive.  An Option shall be deemed to be
          exercised when:

          i)   written notice of such exercise has been given to
               the Company in accordance with the terms of the
               Option Agreement by the person entitled to exercise
               the Option;

          ii)  payment as described above for the Shares with
               respect to which the Option is exercised has been
               received by the Company; and

          iii) such payment is accompanied by any representations
               or agreements required by the terms of this Plan or
               the Option Agreement.

          A holder of an Option shall not have any rights to
          dividends or any other rights as a stockholder of the
          Company with respect to any shares covered by his Option
          until such shares shall have been issued to him as
          reflected by the books and records maintained by the
          Company's transfer agent relating to stockholders of the
          Company.

     (b)  TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR DIRECTOR RELATIONSHIP/
          DEATH OR DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE

          i)   If an Optionee shall cease to be an Employee or
               Outside Director by reason of discharge or
               termination, as applicable, his right to exercise
               any non-qualified stock options shall cease thirty
               (30) days (except to the extent otherwise provided
               in [ii] below) after the date of such discharge or
               termination; provided, however, that if his
               employment is terminated for cause or without the
               consent of the Company, said Option shall terminate
               immediately.  The Plan shall not confer upon any
               Optionee any right with respect to continuation of
               employment or consulting, nor shall it interfere in
               any way with his right or the Company's right to
               terminate such relationship at any time subject to
               the provisions of any applicable contract.  An
               Option may be exercised under this paragraph only
               to the extent of the accrued right to exercise at
               the time of discharge or termination, as the case
               may be, and only to the extent that the Option is
               otherwise exercisable pursuant to the initial term
               provided for in the Option Agreement covering such
               Option.

          ii)  In the event of the death or disability of an
               Optionee, any non-qualified stock options which
               were exercisable by the Optionee on the date of his
               death or disability shall remain exercisable for a
               period of six (6) months by the Optionee, the
               Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the
               right to exercise the Option by bequest or
               inheritance.  An Option may be exercised under this
               paragraph only to the extent of the accrued right
               to exercise at the time of death or disability, as
               the case may be, and only to the extent that the
               Option is otherwise exercisable pursuant to its
               initial term.


11)  NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS AND RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
     ----------------------------------------------------------

     The Option and, unless and until the shares subject to a
Restricted Stock Award are no longer subject to forfeiture, shares
subject to a Restricted Stock Award may not be sold, pledged,
assigned, hypothecated, transferred or disposed of in any manner
other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and an
Option may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by
the Optionee.


12)  RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD
     ----------------------

     The Shares subject to a Restricted Stock Award shall be issued
in the name of the recipient as soon as reasonably practicable
after the date of grant of the Restricted Stock Award (and after
the recipient has executed a Restricted Stock Award Agreement and
any other documents which the Board or the Compensation Committee,
in its absolute discretion, may require) without the requirement
for payment of any cash consideration by such recipient, but shall
be held by the Company until all risk of forfeiture shall have
lapsed.  Any certificate representing such Shares may bear such
restrictive legend, if any, as the Board or the Compensation
Committee may determine.  Shares issued pursuant to Restricted
Stock Awards shall be subject to such restrictions, terms and
conditions as the Board or the Compensation Committee may
establish, which may include, without limitation, the achievement
of specific goals, and shall vest at such time or times as the
Board or the Compensation Committee shall determine.  The Board or
the Compensation Committee may, in their sole discretion, make such
adjustments to the goals applicable to a Restricted Stock Award as
they deem necessary or advisable due to changes in criteria used
for the specific goals or other factors which they deem
appropriate.

               Upon issuance of the Shares subject to a Restricted Stock
Award, the recipient shall, subject to Section ll, have all the
rights of a stockholder with respect to such Shares, including the
right to vote such Shares, but all dividends and other
distributions paid or made with respect to such Shares shall be
held by the Company subject to the restrictions, terms and
conditions of the Restricted Stock Award.

     As promptly as practicable after the shares of Common Stock
subject to a Restricted Stock Award, cease to be subject to
forfeiture, the certificate representing such Shares, or a new
certificate without any inapplicable restrictive legend if the
original certificate bore a restrictive legend, shall be delivered
to the recipient or, in the event of the death of a recipient prior
to delivery, to his personal representative.

     In the event of the termination of employment of a recipient
of a Restricted Stock Award with the consent of the Company or due
to death, disability or normal retirement, the Board or the
Compensation Committee may, in its sole discretion, deem that the
restrictions, terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Award
have been met for all or part of the Shares subject thereto,
subject to such further terms and conditions, if any, as the Board
or the Compensation Committee may determine.


13)  FORFEITURE OF OPTIONS AND REPAYMENT 
     OF MARKET VALUE OF OPTIONS OR AWARDS
     ------------------------------------

     If, at any time within one (1) year after an Optionee ceases
to be an Employee or Outside Director, such Optionee engages in any
activity in competition with any activity of the Company, or
inimical, contrary or harmful to the interests of the Company,
including, but not limited to:

(a)  conduct related to such Optionee's employment for which either
     criminal or civil penalties against the Optionee may be
     sought;

(b)  violation of Company policies, including, without limitation,
     the Company's insider trading policy;

(c)  accepting employment with or serving as a consultant, advisor
     or in any other capacity to an employer that is in competition
     with or acting against the interests of the Company, including
     employing or recruiting any present, former or future employee
     of the Company; 

(d)  disclosing or mis-using any confidential information or
     material concerning the Company; or,

(e)  participating in a hostile takeover attempt, then:

     i)   Options and Restricted Stock Awards shall terminate
          effective the date on which such Optionee enters into
          such activity, unless terminated sooner by operation of
          another term or condition of this Plan;

     ii)  the aggregate difference between the exercise price of
          Options exercised within one (1) year of the date (the
          "Termination Date") Optionee ceased to be an Employee or
          Outside Consultant and the closing market value of the
          Shares covered by such Options; and

     iii) the aggregate of the closing market value for all Shares
          subject to Restricted Stock Awards as to which forfeiture
          provision expired within one (1) year prior to the
          Termination Date shall be paid by the Optionee to the
          Company.

     By accepting any Option or Restricted Stock Award, each
Optionee consents to a deduction from any amounts the Company owes
such Optionee from time to time (including amounts owed as wages or
other compensation, fringe benefits or vacation pay, as well as any
other amounts owed by the Company), to the extent of the amounts
the Optionee owes the Company under the foregoing paragraph. 
Whether or not the Company elects to make any set-off in whole or
in part, if the company does not recover by means of set-off the
full amount the Optionee owes it, calculated as set forth above,
each Optionee agrees to pay immediately the unpaid balance to the
Company.  Optionees may be released from their obligations under
this Section above only by the Board of Directors or the
Compensation Committee.


14)  ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION
     ------------------------------------------

     In the event there is any change in the Common Stock through
the declaration of stock dividends, or through a recapitalization
resulting in a stock split, or combination or exchange of Shares,
or reorganization, or otherwise, the Board or the Compensation
Committee shall appropriately adjust the number or class of Shares
covered by any Option or Restricted Stock Award, as well as the
price to be paid therefor; and, in the event of any such change in
the outstanding Common Stock, the aggregate number and class of
Shares available under the Plan shall be appropriately  adjusted.

     No fractional Shares of the Common Stock shall be issuable on
account of any action aforesaid, and the aggregate number of Shares
then covered by the Option or Restricted Stock Award when changed
as a result of such action shall be reduced to the largest number
of whole Shares resulting from such action unless the Board or the
Compensation Committee, in its discretion, shall determine to issue
scrip certificates in respect of any fractional Shares, which scrip
certificates shall be in a form and have such terms and conditions
as the Board or the Compensation Committee in its discretion shall
prescribe.


15)  MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, ETC.
     ---------------------------

     In the event that any consolidation of the Company with, or
merger of the Company into, any other corporation (other than a
consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing
corporation) or any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company is contemplated, the Board may provide
that any Optionee shall be given the opportunity to exercise any
and all Options which such Optionee then holds prior to such
consolidation, merger or sale of assets and, notwithstanding any
provisions of this Plan or of an Option Agreement to the contrary,
the exercisability of such Option shall be accelerated as
appropriate to allow for such exercise and the Board may terminate
each outstanding Option as of a date to be fixed by the Board or
Compensation Committee, which shall not be earlier than five (5)
days after the date such Options become exercisable.


16)  WITHHOLDING TAX
     ---------------

     The Company may make such provisions (including accepting
Shares as payment or reducing the number of Shares to be issued) as
it may deem appropriate for the withholding of any taxes which the
Company determines it is required to withhold in connection with
the grant or exercise of any Option or Restricted Stock Award or
the disposition of any Common Stock acquired pursuant to the
exercise of an Option or Restricted Stock Award.  If an Optionee
who exercises all or part of an Option subsequently disposes of
Common Stock in a "disqualifying disposition" described under Code
Section 422(c)(2), such Optionee shall so notify the Company,
forward such information as is thereby requested by the Company
and, if so requested by the Company, pay to the Company such dollar
amounts as are necessary to satisfy the Company's tax withholding
obligations resulting from such disposition.


17)  TIME OF GRANTING OPTIONS
     ------------------------

     The date of grant of an Option or Restricted Stock Award under
the Plan shall for all purposes be the date on which the Board or
Compensation Committee makes the determination granting such Option
or Restricted Stock Award.  Notice of the determination shall be
given to the Optionee within a reasonable time after the date of
such grant.


18)  AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
     -------------------------------------

     (a)  AMENDMENT
          The Board, without approval of the shareholders, may
          amend the Plan from time to time in such respects as the
          Board may deem advisable except that the Board may not,
          except with approval of the shareholders, amend the
          eligibility requirements of this Plan or increase the
          number of shares subject to this Plan except as permitted
          by Section 14.

     (b)  TERMINATION
          The Board, without approval of the shareholders, may at
          any time terminate the Plan.

     (c)  EFFECT OF AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION
          Any such amendment or termination of the Plan shall not
          affect Options or Restricted Stock Awards already
          granted, and such Options or Restricted Stock Awards
          shall remain in full force and effect as if this Plan had
          not been amended or terminated and shall be deemed to
          incorporate the terms of this Plan as it existed on the
          dates the Options or Restricted Stock Awards were
          granted.


19)  CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES
     ----------------------------------

     Shares shall not be issued with respect to an Option or
Restricted Stock Award granted under the Plan unless the exercise
of such Option or termination of the forfeiture period for such
Restricted Stock Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares
pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant provisions of law,
including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,
the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may
then be listed, and applicable state securities laws, and shall be
further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with
respect to such compliance.

     As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may
require the person exercising such Option to represent and warrant
at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being
purchased only for investment and without any present intention to
sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for
the Company, such a representation is necessary or desirable under
any of the aforementioned relevant provisions of law.


20)  RESERVATION OF SHARES
     ---------------------

     During the terms of this Plan, the Company will at all times
reserve and keep available a number of Shares sufficient to satisfy
the requirements of the Plan.

     Inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body
having jurisdiction such authority as is deemed by the Company's
counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any
Shares hereunder shall relieve the Company of any liability in
respect of the non-issuance or sale of such Shares as to which such
requisite authority shall not have been obtained.


21)  GOVERNING LAW
     -------------

     The Plan and the rights of all persons hereunder shall be
governed by the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to
principles of conflict of laws.


22)  MISCELLANEOUS
     -------------

     Participation under the Plan shall not affect eligibility for
any profit-sharing, bonus, insurance, pension, or other extra
compensation plan which the Company or any subsidiary may at any
time adopt for employees, except to the extent that any law or
regulation governing any such plan so provides.  By acceptance of
a grant of an Option or Restricted Stock Award under the Plan, each
employee shall be deemed to agree that any income realized upon the
receipt or exercise thereof or upon the disposition of the shares
received pursuant thereto is special incentive compensation and
will not be taken into account as "wages", "salary" or
"compensation" in determining the amount of any payment under any
pension, retirement, incentive, profit-sharing, employee stock
purchase or deferred compensation plan of the Company or any
subsidiary.


23)  SHAREHOLDER'S APPROVAL
     ----------------------

     The Plan shall be subject to approval by the affirmative vote
of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present
and voting at a duly held shareholders' meeting within twelve (12)
months before or after adoption of the Plan by the Board and any
Option or Restricted Stock Award, granted hereunder prior to such
approval shall be conditioned thereon.

                                                           Exhibit 5

                              REID & PRIEST LLP
                             40 West 57th Street
                             New York, NY  10019
                           Telephone 212 603-2000
                              Fax 212 603-2001                           
                              
                                                New York, New York
                                                April 3, 1996


             Photronics, Inc.
             1061 East Indiantown Road
             Jupiter, Florida  33477

                       Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-8
                            ----------------------------------

             Gentlemen:

                       We have acted as counsel to Photronics, Inc., a
             Connecticut corporation (the "Registrant"), in connection
             with the preparation and filing with the Securities and
             Exchange Commission (the "Commission") of a Registration
             Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement"), with
             respect to the registration under the Securities Act of
             1933, as amended (the "Act"), of 600,000 shares of the
             Registrant's common stock, $.01 par value per share (the
             "Shares"), issuable upon the exercise of options (the
             "Options") granted or to be granted pursuant to the
             Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").  

                       For purposes of this opinion we have examined the
             Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Certificate
             of Incorporation and the By-Laws of the Registrant, the
             Plan and such other documents, records, agreements,
             proceedings and legal matters as we have deemed necessary
             to examine.  With respect to any documents, records or
             agreements (collectively, the "Documents") that we have
             examined, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures
             on, and the authenticity of, all Documents submitted to us
             as originals, and the conformity to the originals of all
             Documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic
             copies.

                       Based upon the foregoing and subject to the
             qualifications stated herein we are of the opinion that:

                       1.   The Registrant is a corporation duly
             incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under
             the laws of the State of Connecticut.

                       2.   The Shares included in the Registration
             Statement that are to be issued upon the exercise of the
             Options granted or to be granted pursuant to the Plan will
             be duly authorized and validly issued, and fully paid and
             non-assessable when the Options shall have been properly
             exercised and the exercise price shall have been paid for
             the Shares in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

                       We are members of the Bar of the State of New
             York and do not hold ourselves out as experts concerning,
             or qualified to render opinions with respect to, any laws
             other than the laws of the State of New York and the
             federal laws of the United States of America.  Insofar as
             our opinion concerns Connecticut law, we have relied upon
             the opinion of Jeffrey P. Moonan, Senior Vice President and
             General Counsel of the Registrant.

                       We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion
             with the Commission as Exhibit 5 to the Registration
             Statement.  In giving the foregoing consent, we do not
             thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose
             consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules
             and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

                                           Very truly yours,

                                           /s/ Reid & Priest LLP



                                                           Exhibit 23(a)


                            INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
                            -----------------------------

             We consent to the incorporation by reference in this
          Registration Statement of Photronics, Inc. on Form S-8 of our
          report dated December 12, 1995 appearing in the Annual Report on
          Form 10-K of Photronics, Inc. for the year ended October 31,
          1995.


          /s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

          DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP



          April 4, 1996