The invention provides a coater, and methods of using the coater, for depositing thin films onto generally-opposed major surfaces of a sheet-like substrate. The coater has a substrate transport system adapted for supporting the substrate in vertical-offset configuration wherein the substrate is not in a perfectly vertical position but rather is offset from vertical by an acute angle. The transport system defines a path of substrate travel extending through the coater. The transport system is adapted for conveying the substrate along the path of substrate travel. Preferably, the transport system includes a side support for supporting a rear major surface of the substrate. The preferred side support bounds at least one passage through which coating material passes when such coating material is deposited onto the substrate’s rear major surface. Preferably, the coater includes at least one coating apparatus (e.g., which is adapted for delivering coating material) on each of two sides of the path of substrate travel. The coating apparatuses preferably are adapted for depositing coatings onto both of the generally-opposed major surfaces of the substrate in a single pass of the substrate along the path of substrate travel.