devices , systems and methods are disclosed which facilitate reduction of separation forces in additive manufacturing devices , thereby enabling creation of higher resolution parts . in an aspect , an additive manufacturing device utilizing a photopolymer comprises a vat holding photocurable resin , a build platform movable in a vertical direction and an image source which selectively projects part cross sections into the vat in order to polymerize the resin and form a part in a layer - wise fashion . the image area of the vat is formed by a transparent film , such as teflon fep film , stretched under tension . a horizontally slideable shutter is slideable between the film and the imager , providing support for the film when needed .