Some experimental results About thickness uniformity, composition uniformity, and stoichiometry of large-area multicomponent oxide thin films deposited by inverted cylindrical sputtering from a compound target were reported. Rutherford backscattering had been employed to determine the thickness distribution, the composition distribution, and the stoichiometry of NdBa2Cu3O7-x, thin films. For the film deposited on stationary substrate, the thickness and composition deviate severely. But using suitable substrate movements, we could reduce both the thickness and composition deviation simultaneously without the decrease in deposition rate. Uniform 3-in thin films could be obtained at a relatively high deposition rate on substrate with displaced tilted in-plane rotation or biaxial rotation. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.