a system and method for 3d microfabrication projects light capable of initiating photopolymerization toward a spatial light modulator that modulates light responsive to digital masks corresponding to layers of the structure . projection optics focus the modulated light onto an optical plane within a photopolymerizable material supported on a stage . a computer controller causes the spatial light modulator to project a sequence of images corresponding to the digital masks while coordinating movement of the stage to move a position of the optical plane within the photopolymerizable material to sequentially project each image of the sequence to generate the structure by progressively photopolymerizing the photopolymerizable material .