The present disclosure describes an additive manufacturing apparatus. The apparatus includes a chamber (11) having a planar circumferential top edge portion (12) defining a chamber orifice (13); a stage (15) movably positioned in the chamber (11), the two together configured to receive a viscous resin; a dispenser (30) facing the stage (15) and operatively associated therewith, the dispenser (30) configured to apply a planar coating of viscous resin; a primary drive (22) operatively associated with the dispenser (30) and chamber (11), the primary drive (22) configured to move the dispenser (30) across the chamber orifice (13); a light engine (40) facing the stage (15) and operatively associated therewith, the light engine (40) configured to expose a coating of resin on the stage (15) planar top surface (12) to patterned light; and a stage drive (24) operatively associated with the stage (15) and configured to retract the stage (15) into the chamber (11), following exposure of a coating of resin. Methods of making a three-dimensional object by additive manufacturing are also described.