A method and apparatus (100) for configuring and tuning a crystal (102, 106) by selectively controlling a fluid (400) supplied to a plurality of nodes (106) within a substrate (102). The apparatus comprises a substrate (102) having at least one node (106) that can be selectively supplied with a liquid (400) that will change the material property of the node. The node may be a spherical cavity (702) in a three-dimensional structure, a cylindrical aperture (106) in two-dimensional structure, or a cavity (1106) in a one-dimensional structure. The node or nodes in the substrate are coupled to a fluid distribution assembly (104) that selectively alters the material property of the nodes. The material property may be changed by moving the fluid or material in a fluid, using electrohydrodynamic pumping, electroosmotic pumping, electrophoresis, thermocapillarity, electrowetting or electrocapillarity. The change in the material property in at least one of the nodes changes the electromagnetic radiation filtering or switching characteristics of the crystal.