NOVELTY - A method (M1) of forming photovoltaic device (100) involves providing active component (102); providing encapsulant layer (108) disposed on component; providing fluoropolymer layer on encapsulant layer; laying fabric on surface of fluoropolymer layer, where fabric has openings to provide textured pattern on fluoropolymer layer; laminating active component/encapsulant layer/fluoropolymer layer/fabric; and removing fabric from fluoropolymer layer to provide textured fluoropolymer layer disposed on encapsulant layer, where textured layer has surface features (120) that form outer surface.    USE - For forming a photovoltaic device and photovoltaic module, where the device is a flexible photovoltaic device or rigid photovoltaic device (claimed). The photovoltaic device is used to convert sunlight into electricity.    ADVANTAGE - The fabric reduces the formation of wrinkles on the fluoropolymer layer and encapsulant layer disposed on the active component after removal of the fabric layer from the fluoropolymer layer. The film provides an improved protective barrier for photovoltaic device.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A method (M1) of forming photovoltaic device (100) involves providing an active component (102); providing an encapsulant layer (108) disposed on the active component; providing a fluoropolymer layer on the encapsulant layer; laying a fabric on a surface of the fluoropolymer layer, where the fabric has openings configured to provide a textured pattern on the fluoropolymer layer; laminating the active component, encapsulant layer, fluoropolymer layer, and fabric; and removing the fabric from the fluoropolymer layer to provide a textured fluoropolymer layer disposed on the encapsulant layer, where the textured fluoropolymer layer has surface features (120) that form an outer surface. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) a textured film comprising a first layer forming an outer surface and comprising a fluoropolymer; and a second layer comprising an encapsulant, where the first layer and the second layer are mechanically textured to provide surface features on the outer surface and extend into the second layer; and    (2) a method (M2) of forming a photovoltaic module involving providing an encapsulant layer having a first surface and a second surface; providing a fluoropolymer layer disposed on the first surface; mechanically texturing the encapsulant layer and the fluoropolymer layer to provide surface features that form an outer surface and a texture depth extending into the fluoropolymer layer and the encapsulant layer; and laminating the mechanically textured encapsulant layer and fluoropolymer layer to an active device, where the texture angle of the surface features post lamination is a mean slope of at least about 20 degrees .    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows schematic view illustrating photovoltaic device.    Photovoltaic device (100)    Active component (102)    Protective layers (104, 106)    Encapsulant layers (108, 110)    Front surface of active component (112)    Back surface of active component (114)    Outer surface of the photovoltaic device (116)    Back surface of photovoltaic device (118)    Surface features (120)