Achieving dense patterns with good resolution is a key step for several applications in micro-and nanoelectronics. Based on the mechanical strength and capillary forces between nanometer scale features, the authors have proposed that the use of thin resist is a solution to achieve dense array of patterns. Therefore, the authors have studied the effect of resist thickness on the resolution of dense patterns for both lines and dots. Based on the experimental results using hydrogen silsesquioxane resist, dense patterns with sub-10-nm half-pitch were achieved. The authors also propose a new method for calculating contrast for nanostructures. (C) 2011 American Vacuum Society. [DOI: 10.1116/1.3532938]