Nanogratings　with　different　duty　cycles　are　directly　written　on　gold　films　using　interference　ablation.　After　exposing　the　gold　film　to　the　interference　pattern　of　ultraviolet　laser　beams,　gold　film　in　the　bright　fringes　will　be　melted　and　ablated,　whereas　much　weaker　ablation　occurs　in　the　dark　fringes.　The　duty　cycle　of　gold　nanogratings　can　be　controlled　by　adjusting　the　pulse　energy　and　the　exposure　times,　which　can　be　explained　by　the　temperature　rise　and　cumulative　effect　of　the　laser-metal　interactions.　These　results　introduce　additional　parameters　for　the　fine　fabrication　of　metal　nanogratings　based　on　interference　ablation　at　a　large　scale　and　low　cost.　(C)　2016　Society　of　Photo-Optical　Instrumentation　Engineers　(SPIE)