Polyimide containing an indan unit and alkyl moiety with a high molecular weight was prepared from 5,7-diamino-1,1,4,6-tetramethylindan and 3,3',4,4'-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride. This polyimide was amorphous and soluble in common organic solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, and cyclopentanone. Thermogravimetry of the polyimide showed good thermal stability, indicating that a 10% weight loss of the polyimide was observed at 500 degreesC in nitrogen. The glass-transition temperature of the polyimide was not observed by DSC measurement between room temperature and 400 degreesC at a heating rate of 10 degreesC/min (Apparatus: DSC3100 MAC Science Co., Ltd.). Transparency of the polyimide at 365 nm was 80%. The polyimide acted as a photosensitive resist of negative type by UV radiation. The resist had a sensitivity of 31 mJ/cm(2) and a contrast of 2.3 when it was developed with cyclopentanone at room temperature.