Plasma temperatures generated by focusing ruby‐laser giant pulses on surfaces of Be, Al, and Pb in a vacuum were measured as a function of time and giant‐pulse intensity. The monochromatic emission intensities of the plasmas (relative to those obtained with a standard source) were measured at wavelengths ranging from 4000 to 10 500 Å, and the temperatures were then calculated from the Planck function. It was found that the plasma temperatures achieved with the lighter elements were hotter and had greater rates of increase with laser intensity. However, the rates of increase were proportional to only the 0.5 power of the laser intensity or less, and the difference in temperatures between target materials was not very great. Temperatures as high as 8×105°K were achieved with beryllium.