Ablation parameters such as velocity, mass, momentum, pressure, and hydrodynamic efficiency have been investigated with plane targets irradiated in the range 3×1011-1015 W cm−2 with 1 nsec pulses and laser wavelengths of 1.06 μm and 0.35 μm. We show that ablation velocity, ablated mass, and momentum are in good agreement with ablation scaling laws deduced from analytical models taking into account inverse bremsstrahlung absorption below the critical density. Nevertheless, processes such as lateral conduction, hot spot, and preheat effects make inaccurate the comparison between ablation pressures, mass ablation rates, or hydrodynamic efficiencies measured for different laser wavelengths. Laser illumination nonuniformities are transmitted to the target in terms of pressure variations. The harmful consequence of a reduced lateral energy flow in 0.35 μm experiments can eclipse the increasing of ablation pressure and hydrodynamic efficiency.