A method of printing comprises the steps of: providing a solid state material having an exposed surface; applying an auxiliary layer to the exposed surface to form a composite structure, the auxiliary layer having a stress pattern; subjecting the composite structure to conditions facilitating fracture of the solid state material along a plane at a depth therein; and removing the auxiliary layer and, therewith, a layer of the solid state material terminating at the fracture depth, wherein an exposed surface of the removed layer of solid state material has a surface topology corresponding to the stress pattern.