Carrier for Reducing Entrance and/or Exit Marks Left by a Substrate-Processing Meniscus

A method for forming a substrate carrier for use with a meniscus forming proximity head for substrate processing, comprising:

• forming a frame of the substrate carrier to have a top frame surface, a bottom frame surface, and a frame opening formed to extend from the top frame surface to the bottom frame surface, the frame opening having a diameter sized for receiving a substrate in an orientation in which top and bottom surfaces of the substrate are parallel to the top and bottom frame surfaces, wherein the diameter of the frame opening is larger than a diameter of the substrate such that an annular gap exists between a periphery of the substrate and the frame when the substrate is present in the frame opening;
• providing a number of support pins on the frame to support the substrate within the frame opening;
• and
• forming a cutout in the frame proximate to the frame opening in at least one of a leading edge or a trailing edge of the frame proximate to the frame opening such that the cutout is in fluid communication with the annular gap, wherein the leading and trailing edges of the frame are referenced with regard to a linear direction of travel of the substrate carrier relative to the meniscus forming proximity head.