This invention provides a laser trimming method for tuning the frequency of a spiral resonator, and for improving the characteristics of a high temperature superconductor filter comprised of high temperature superconductor spiral resonators, by tuning the individual high temperature superconductor spiral resonators. This invention also provides a method for tuning the resonance frequency of a high temperature superconductor planar coil. This invention also provides a laser ablation process for creating high temperature superconductor circuit elements.