NOVELTY - Forming a patterned layer from a common layer in a photovoltaic application, comprises either: (a) making a first pass with a first laser beam over an area on the common layer, and (b) making a second pass with a second laser beam over the same area on the common layer; or (c) making a first laser beam pass with the first laser beam over the first area on the common layer, (d) removing a first amount of the common layer, (e) making a second laser beam pass with the second laser beam over the second area on the common layer, and (f) removing a second amount of the common layer.    USE - The method is useful for forming a patterned layer from a common layer in a photovoltaic application.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Forming a patterned layer (which is configured to form at least one portion (14a) of at least one solar cell (10) on a rigid substrate (12) or at least one electrically isolated layer of material (14) on a substrate) from a common layer in a photovoltaic application, comprises either: (a) making a first pass with a first laser beam over an area on the common layer, and (b) making a second pass with a second laser beam over the same area on the common layer; or (c) making a first laser beam pass with the first laser beam over the first area on the common layer, (d) removing a first amount of the common layer, (e) making a second laser beam pass with the second laser beam over the second area on the common layer, and (f) removing a second amount of the common layer, where the second amount of the common layer comprises either portions of the common layer left after the first pass, or remnants of the first amount that resettle within the area. The first pass and the second pass respectively provide first and second levels of electrical isolation between first and second portions of the common layer, where the second level of electrical isolation is greater than the first level of electrical isolation, and the first pass has a first trajectory and the second pass has a second trajectory that corresponds to the first trajectory.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a side view for generating the solar cell.    Solar cell (10)    Rigid substrate (12)    Material (14)    Portion of the material (14a)    Groove (16)