A method and apparatus are disclosed for separating a stamper from a patterned substrate. The method includes providing a substrate having a top and a bottom with an opening therein, providing a support mechanism configured to retain the substrate, providing a stamper having a formed pattern and configured to come in contact with the top of the substrate, wherein a chamber is formed within the opening of the substrate when the stamper is in contact with the substrate, providing a channel directed toward the chamber to introduce pressurized air into the chamber, and directing pressured air through the channel to the chamber to initiate separation of the stamper from the substrate. In certain embodiments, the pressurized air may be directed toward an opening in the substrate, such as a central ID hole in a disk. The disk may be incorporated within a storage device as pattered magnetic media.