Hybrid titania gel films are prepared from titanium butoxide and vinylpyrrolidone (VP). When the gel film is exposed to UV light, the C = C double bond of VP in the film polymerizes and the solubility of the irradiated film decreases in HCl aqueous solution. The difference of the solubility between the irradiated and unirradiated parts makes fine patterning on the hybrid titania film whose refractive index is in the range between 1.8 and 2.1 (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V.All rights reserved.