This tutorial provides detailed information on how to establish and improve evaporative coating processes for precision optical coatings. Design considerations for coating chambers, such as source placement, substrate fixturing, control of film thickness uniformity, and thickness monitors will be discussed. Trade-offs in the selection of source materials, means of controlling film structure, and the influence on the performance of the coated component will be considered. Process details will be approached with a focus on practicality; film properties must be measurable and system designs must be practical and cost-effective. Measurement techniques will be discussed to identify the influence of the coating process, understanding film performance as well as characterizing shortcomings of process methods. These process concepts are readily implemented in standard evaporation systems, providing significant improvements in existing coating facilities.