A method for forming a pattern, for example, an electrically conducting pattern on a glass window, comprises the steps of depositing on the ceramic substrate (12) in a desired pattern a thin layer (16) of a heat fusable material. A protective layer (26) is deposited over the pattern formed of the heat fusable material. The protective layer (26) may be formed from an oxygen barrier material and an oxygen getting material. The protective layer (26) is non-heat fusable and nonreactive with the heat fusable material (16). All of this structure can then be heated in an oxygen containing atmosphere to a temperature sufficient to permit the heat fusable material (16) to fuse to the ceramic substrate (12). The protective layer protects the fusable material from oxidation by physically blocking out oxygen and by chemically providing an oxygen getting material which will react with any oxygen which does manage to penetrate into the oxygen barrier material. The ceramic substrate (12), fused heat fusable material (16), and remaining oxygen barrier material (26) thereon are cooled back to room temperature and any remainder of the protective layer (26) is removed from the ceramic substrate (12).