on a surface through the vapor phase such as by vapor film growth evaporation sputtering and the like etch selective removal of material using a chemical reaction or physical erosion to dissolve or breakdown the material chemical reaction can take place in the liquid or gas vapor phase electroplating use of electrolytic reactions to put material usually metal on a surface electrodeposition use of electric fields to place a material usually a polymer on a surface stenciling placement of material at selected regions on a surface by using a physical stencil to obstruct certain regions also the use of a stencil to protect certain regions from etch laser machining use of a laser to remove material through melting vaporizing or ablation also laser machining may mean the use of a laser to assist in other processes such as laser assisted etch machining use of a sharp tool to remove a material from a surface this includes common operations such as sawing drilling milling lathing reaming tapping and the like edm electron discharge machining the use of an electrical current to etch or cut materials water jet machining use of a high pressure water jet sometimes filled with abrasive materials to cut or etch materials sandblasting.