A method for laser induced forward transfer (LIFT), the method comprising - providing a donor substrate with a donor material to be transferred; - providing an acceptor substrate at a transfer distance (Zt) from the donor substrate for accepting the donor material; - impinging the donor substrate with one or more laser pulses (L1,L2) depositing their energy (E1,E2) into the donor material for initializing the transfer; - wherein the energy (E1,E2) is deposited according to an intensity profile (Ixy) which is spatially tuned across an interface of the donor material to cause the donor material to be ejected from the donor substrate as an extended jet (Je) momentarily bridging the transfer distance (Zt) between the donor substrate and the acceptor substrate during a transfer period (Tt); - wherein the intensity profile (Ixy) has a first intensity range over a relatively large first spot size on the donor material to cause the extended jet (Je) to start from the donor substrate as a corresponding relatively thick jet; - wherein the intensity profile (Ixy) has a second intensity range, higher than the first intensity range, over a relatively small second spot size, smaller than the first spot size, wherein the intensity profile (Ixy) of the combined intensity ranges (11,12) and spot sizes (Ds1,Ds2) has a non-Gaussian shape with a locally increased intensity spike (Is) at a center of the intensity profile (Ixy) to cause the thick jet to branch into a relatively thin jet at a branching position between the donor substrate and acceptor substrate by the locally increased intensity at the center, wherein only the thin jet reaches the acceptor substrate for depositing a droplet (Jd) of its donor material before breaking up. - providing a donor substrate with a donor material to be transferred; - providing an acceptor substrate at a transfer distance (Zt) from the donor substrate for accepting the donor material; - impinging the donor substrate with one or more laser pulses (L1,L2) depositing their energy (E1,E2) into the donor material for initializing the transfer; - wherein the energy (E1,E2) is deposited according to an intensity profile (Ixy) which is spatially tuned across an interface of the donor material to cause the donor material to be ejected from the donor substrate as an extended jet (Je) momentarily bridging the transfer distance (Zt) between the donor substrate and the acceptor substrate during a transfer period (Tt); - wherein the intensity profile (Ixy) has a first intensity range over a relatively large first spot size on the donor material to cause the extended jet (Je) to start from the donor substrate as a corresponding relatively thick jet; - wherein the intensity profile (Ixy) has a second intensity range, higher than the first intensity range, over a relatively small second spot size, smaller than the first spot size, wherein the intensity profile (Ixy) of the combined intensity ranges (11,12) and spot sizes (Ds1,Ds2) has a non-Gaussian shape with a locally increased intensity spike (Is) at a center of the intensity profile (Ixy) to cause the thick jet to branch into a relatively thin jet at a branching position between the donor substrate and acceptor substrate by the locally increased intensity at the center, wherein only the thin jet reaches the acceptor substrate for depositing a droplet (Jd) of its donor material before breaking up.