The present disclosure relates to a patterned structure, the structure comprising: i) a substrate, ii) a first layer on top of the substrate, comprising a filler material and a guiding material, wherein at least a top surface of the first layer comprises one or more zones of filler material and one or more zones of guiding material, and iii) a second layer on top of the first layer comprising a pattern of a first material, the pattern being either aligned or anti-aligned with the underlying one or more zones of guiding material; wherein the first material comprises a metal or a ceramic material and wherein the guiding material and the filler material either both comprise or both do not comprise the metal or ceramic material.