A method for disposing material includes positioning a donor film including a donor material at a predefined distance from an acceptor substrate (12), the donor film (62) facing toward the acceptor substrate (12). One or more pulses of laser radiation are directed to impinge on the donor film (62) at a given location so as to induce formation of a protrusion made from the donor material. A distal tip of the protrusion touches the acceptor substrate (12) and disposes thereon while the protrusion is still in contact with the donor film (62). A spot of the donor material is formed on the acceptor substrate (12) by increasing a separation between the donor film and the acceptor substrate so as to detach the distal tip of the protrusion from the donor film.