Abstract: Methods and products formed thereby that include depositing a light-absorbing particle on a substrate and irradiating the particle with a pulsed laser beam to cause an increase in local temperature of a portion of the substrate contacted by and adjacent to the particle, enabling the particle to penetrate and migrate through the substrate to form a pore. The methods may include additional steps of applying a magnetic field gradient to the particle as the particle is irradiated with the laser beam in order to promote the movement of the particle within the substrate or to direct the movement of the particle within the substrate, and/or the step of filling the pore with a material that provides a functional capability independent of the properties of the substrate.