Abstract: An apparatus (1) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object (13) comprises a trough (7) for holding material (11) which can be solidified under the influence of light. The trough (7) comprises on its lower side a transparent plate (8). On the transparent plate (8) and side wall (10) of the trough (7) is provided a resilient layer (9) from which solidified material is easier to detach than from the transparent plate (8). An exposure and projection unit (19) serves to expose and solidify the material (11) in the trough (7) from below through the transparent plate (8).

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for the separation of a material layer (4) hardened on a flat plane (2) serving as a reference by means of a flexible, elastic separating layer (1) arranged between plane and material layer and designed in the form of a film or a gel-like material, are provided.