Provided is a method of determining one or more profile parameters of a
photomask covered with a pellicle, the method comprising developing an
optical metrology model of a pellicle covering a photomask, developing an
optical metrology model of the photomask, the photomask separated from
the pellicle by a medium and having a structure, the structure having
profile parameters, the optical metrology model of the photomask taking
into account the optical effects on the illumination beam transmitted
through the pellicle and diffracted by the photomask structure. The
optical metrology model of the pellicle and the optical metrology model
of the photomask structure are integrated and optimized. At least one
profile parameters of the photomask structure is determined using the
optimized integrated optical metrology model.