Embodiments of method for igniting a plasma are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for igniting a plasma includes: flowing a process gas into a process chamber to increase a pressure within the process chamber to a first pressure; applying a first bias voltage from a collimator power source to a collimator disposed within the process chamber; and applying a second power to a sputtering source disposed in the process chamber above the collimator after the first pressure has been reached and the first bias voltage is applied to ignite the plasma.