A photolithographic method which produces a structure in a radiation-emitting semiconductor component by providing a semiconductor wafer having a semiconductor layer sequence, applying a first photoresist layer to the semiconductor wafer, providing a mask, and arranging the mask relative to the coated semiconductor wafer, exposing the first photoresist layer and imaging the mask in the first photoresist layer, arranging the mask or a different mask relative to the semiconductor wafer at another position different from a first position and again exposing the first photoresist layer and imaging the mask in the first photoresist layer or applying a second photoresist layer to the first photoresist layer, arranging the mask or a different mask relative to the semiconductor wafer at a second position, and exposing the second photoresist layer and imaging the mask in the second photoresist layer, forming a patterned photoresist layer and patterning the semiconductor wafer.