Abstract: A thin film manipulator comprising: a porous thin film manipulator interface with a chamber surface and an opposing thin film surface, the porous thin film manipulator interface having a through-thickness porosity to allow a fluid to be used to develop a pressure difference between the chamber surface and the opposing thin film surface; and a plurality of chambers positioned laterally across the chamber surface of the porous thin film manipulator interface, the plurality of chambers configured to allow: progressive removal of fluid laterally across the interface to provide a lateral pressure gradient which progressively decreases the pressure laterally across the thin film surface to progressively hold a thin film at the thin film surface and/or progressive application of fluid laterally across the interface to provide a lateral pressure gradient which progressively increases the pressure laterally across the thin film surface to progressively release an adhered thin film from the thin film surface.