A method for machining and releasing closed forms from a workpiece, being characterised by comprising the following steps of: providing a first laser beam having bursts of ultrafast laser pulses and a wavelength selected such that the workpiece is transparent to the first laser beam; focusing the first laser beam onto the workpiece to form a distributed focus along a longitudinal beam axis, with a beam waist at a location external to the workpiece, and a portion of the distributed focus being within the workpiece, wherein the laser pulses incident on the surface of the workpiece are focused such that a sufficient energy density is maintained within the workpiece to form a continuous laser filament therethrough, creating a void along the filament within the workpiece by annularly compressing material about the filament, e.g. by acoustic compression wave; translating the workpiece with respect to the longitudinal beam axis of the first laser beam to create a plurality of such voids along the outline of a closed form said plurality of voids defining a scribe line; providing a second laser beam, the second laser beam capable of heating the workpiece; applying when a desired part is a portion of the workpiece outside the closed form, the second laser beam to the workpiece only inside the outline of the closed form, such that the deformation of the workpiece occurs within the outline of the closed form or applying when a desired part is in the closed form the second laser beam to the workpiece outside and inside the outline of the closed form in the ratio outside to inside of about 75% to 25% such that the deformation of the workpiece occurs outside the outline of the closed form; moving the second laser beam with respect to the workpiece, following a path in the vicinity of the whole scribe line, the second laser beam causing sufficient heating to melt and deform the workpiece; and wherein the deformed workpiece releases the closed form upon cooling. providing a first laser beam having bursts of ultrafast laser pulses and a wavelength selected such that the workpiece is transparent to the first laser beam; focusing the first laser beam onto the workpiece to form a distributed focus along a longitudinal beam axis, with a beam waist at a location external to the workpiece, and a portion of the distributed focus being within the workpiece, wherein the laser pulses incident on the surface of the workpiece are focused such that a sufficient energy density is maintained within the workpiece to form a continuous laser filament therethrough, creating a void along the filament within the workpiece by annularly compressing material about the filament, e.g. by acoustic compression wave; translating the workpiece with respect to the longitudinal beam axis of the first laser beam to create a plurality of such voids along the outline of a closed form said plurality of voids defining a scribe line; providing a second laser beam, the second laser beam capable of heating the workpiece; applying when a desired part is a portion of the workpiece outside the closed form, the second laser beam to the workpiece only inside the outline of the closed form, such that the deformation of the workpiece occurs within the outline of the closed form or applying when a desired part is in the closed form the second laser beam to the workpiece outside and inside the outline of the closed form in the ratio outside to inside of about 75% to 25% such that the deformation of the workpiece occurs outside the outline of the closed form; moving the second laser beam with respect to the workpiece, following a path in the vicinity of the whole scribe line, the second laser beam causing sufficient heating to melt and deform the workpiece; and wherein the deformed workpiece releases the closed form upon cooling.