This paper highlights the applications of Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to study the effects of argon, nitrogen and oxygen plasma treatments on the topography of polypropylene (PP) tapes. Contrasting surface effects created by the different plasma gases as observed by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Lateral Force Microscopy (LFM) and SEM are discussed in detail with images obtained from both AFM and SEM demonstrating the changes in the surface topography. (c) 2005 Springer Science+ Business Media, Inc.