Disclosed are methods for producing chalcopyrite compound (e.g., copper indium selenide (CIS), copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS), copper indium sulfide (CIS) or copper indium gallium sulfide (CIGS)) thin films. The methods are based on solution processes, such as printing, particularly, multi-stage coating of pastes or inks of precursors having different physical properties. Chalcopyrite compound thin films produced by the methods can be used as light-absorbing layers for thin-film solar cells. The use of the chalcopyrite compound thin films enables the fabrication of thin-film solar cells with improved efficiency at low costs.