Patent ID: 7338609

Claim:
A method for making a photomask, the method comprising the steps of: providing a workpiece comprising a substrate having a top surface, a bottom surface opposed to the top surface and an edge connecting the top surface and the bottom surface, the edge defining a periphery of the substrate, wherein a layer of nontransparent conductor material superimposes the top surface and a layer of a photoresist material superimposes the nontransparent conductor layer; selectively removing the photoresist material from portions of the workpiece adjacent to the periphery to expose the nontransparent layer while leaving at least one tab of photoresist material covering the nontransparent layer adjacent to the periphery; removing the exposed nontransparent layer; removing the tab of photoresist material, or removing at least one tab if more than one tab is present; and removing the exposed nontransparent layer.