A method of controlling the thickness of a layer of material applied to a surface, where the surface has one or more bodies of another material disposed therein, the another material being significantly harder than the first mentioned material, the one or more bodies of another material being disposed on the surface before the layer of material is applied to the surface, the layer of material when applied to the surface having a sufficient thickness to cover the one or more bodies of the another material, the layer of material then being mechanically reduced in thickness, such as by polishing, to expose at least a portion of the one or more bodies of the another material.