Methods are provided for adjusting and controlling the stress between layers of material in a multilayer structure. A first stress is configured in a region of stress on the substrate material. A second material is then deposited over the substrate. A second stress results between the substrate and the second material such that a net stress results where the net stress is a function of said first and second stresses. As such, the first stress can be configured to achieve a predetermined, desired net stress. For example, the first stress can be configured to cancel out the second stress such that the net stress is substantially zero.