A hybrid exposure strategy for pattern generation uses wide field raster scan deflection and a uniformly moving stage to expose long stripes. Periodic analog wide field magnetic scan is augmented by a high speed electrostatic retrograde scan to keep the beam essentially stationary during exposure of rectangular flash fields and/or Gaussian beams. In this manner a staircase deflection trajectory is created for the beam. The position and dose data for each flash is derived from a rasterized data format using a decoder device.