A positive resist containing a weak base and polyvinyl phenol as a film forming component is deposited on a substrate, subsequently exposed imagewise, cured, blanket exposed and developed in a KOH solution at temperatures of less than 10.degree. C. The resist pattern thus obtained is exposed to light having a wavelength ranging from 300 to 320 nm and finally heat-treated at temperatures ranging from 150.degree. to 280.degree. C. The finished lift-off mask is dimensionally stable at temperatures of .ltoreq.280.degree. C. and does not emit liquid or volatile components when heated.During application of the lift-off mask, a material is blanket vapor deposited at a substrate temperature ranging from about 160.degree. to 250.degree. C. on the resist pattern having openings with overhanging walls. Subsequently, the resist pattern is dissolved in a sodium metasilicate solution, causing the material vapor deposited thereon to be lifted off, with the material deposited on the substrate directly remaining.The lift-off mask is particularly suitable for generating conductor patterns on semiconductor substrates if low and uniform contact resistances between the conductor and the semiconductor material and a high degree of pattern accuracy and packing density are required.