Using radio frequency (RF) diode sputtering of sintered stoichiometric (Eu,Y)2O3:7Ta2O5 ceramic targets, thin films (0.2–0.6 m) of Eu- and Y-polytantalates, and their solid solution EuxY1-xTa7O19 were deposited on fused silica, Si (100) and sapphire (001) substrates under various sputtering conditions. As-grown films were amorphous, and were crystallized by post-annealing in oxygen at 900 to 1000 °C. The influences of deposition gases (Ar and O2-partial pressure) substrate material, deposition time, substrate temperature, and post-annealing time and temperature on the structural, morphological and photo-luminescence (PL) properties of Eu 3+-ions in the films have been studied and compared to properties of sintered (Eu,Y)Ta7O19 ceramic and EuTa7O19 single crystals.