Patent ID: 7524618

Claim:
A resist pattern forming method comprising: forming a resist film on a substrate; mounting the substrate formed the resist film thereon and a reticle formed a pattern thereon onto an exposure apparatus comprising a projection optical system; supplying a first chemical solution onto the resist film to selectively form a first liquid film in a local area on the resist film and draining the first chemical solution supplied, wherein the first liquid film has a flow, and wherein the first liquid film is being formed between the resist film and the projection optical system; transferring the pattern formed on the reticle to the resist film, with the first liquid film being formed, to form a latent image in the resist film; supplying a second chemical solution onto the resist film to form a second liquid film on a substantially entire surface of the substrate; removing the second liquid film; heating the resist film formed the latent image therein after the removal; and developing the resist film to form a resist pattern from the resist film heated.