A method for etching an antireflective coating on a substrate is disclosed. The substrate comprises an organic layer, an antireflective coating layer disposed above the organic layer, and a photoresist layer disposed above the antireflective coating layer. The method includes patterning the photoresist layer to expose a non-masked portion of the antireflective coating layer and selectively depositing a carbon-containing layer on the non-masked portions of the antireflective coating layer and on non-sidewall portions of the patterned photoresist layer. The method further includes etching the film stack to remove the carbon-containing layer and to remove a partial thickness of the non-masked portions of the antireflective coating layer without reducing a thickness of the photoresist layer. The method further includes repeating the selective depositing and etching, at least until the complete thickness of the non-masked portions of the antireflective coating layer is removed, to expose the underlying organic layer.