Patent ID: 8701053

Claim:
A determination method which determines a mask pattern used in an exposure apparatus comprising a projection optical system that projects a mask pattern including a main pattern and an auxiliary pattern onto a substrate, and an exposure condition in the exposure apparatus, the method comprising the following step executed by a processor: a step of calculating an image of a mask pattern formed on the substrate by the projection optical system while changing settings of the mask pattern and the exposure condition, and determining the mask pattern and the exposure condition based on the image of the mask pattern, wherein the step comprises: determining whether or not to generate a new auxiliary pattern after the settings are changed; generating the new auxiliary pattern according to a generation condition of the auxiliary pattern when it is determined that the new auxiliary pattern is generated, and calculating the image of the mask pattern using the mask pattern including the generated auxiliary pattern and the main pattern after the settings are changed, and the exposure condition after the settings are changed; and calculating, when it is determined that the new auxiliary pattern is not generated, the image of the mask pattern using a mask pattern including an auxiliary pattern generated before the settings are changed and the main pattern after the settings are changed, and the exposure condition after the settings are changed.