Tetraphenyl porphyrins (TPP) belong to a highly interesting class of molecules with a large variety of electronic, magnetic, and structural properties. So far, local investigations by scanning probe techniques were primarily focused on larger agglomerates of TPP molecules. Here, experimental results of the observation and manipulation of isolated molecules adsorbed on cold metal substrates by means of low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy are presented. Depending on the surface geometry, i.e., Cu(111) VS, Cu(100) three distinct deformations of the molecular structure are identified reflecting the interaction of the phenyl periphery with the substrate. In a second step, controlled manipulation in terms of deformation of the porphyrin core, ligand dissociation, and lateral displacement of the phenyl periphery are demonstrated. (C) 2009 American Vacuum Society. (DOL 10.1116/1.3010722]