A method of improving the focus leveling response of a semiconductor wafer is described. The method includes combining organic and inorganic or metallic near infrared (NIR) hardmask on a semiconductor substrate; forming an anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer on the combined organic NIR-absorption and the inorganic or metallic NIR-absorption hardmask; and forming a photoresist layer on the ARC layer. A semiconductor structure is also described including a substrate, a resist layer located over the structure; and an absorptive layer located over the substrate. The absorptive layer includes an inorganic or metallic NIR-absorbing hardmask layer.