Optical microscopy and electron-backscattered diffraction images of the longitudinal cross-section of a typical SLE-processed CMSX-4 sample. The coarser microstructure in the lower half is that of the investment-cast CMSX-4 plate substrate. The highly refined microstructure in the upper half is that of the laser-melted and resolidified CMSX-4 powder forming a fully dense deposit with a microstructure derived from epitaxial solidification. The majority of CMSX-4 deposited through SLE has [001] crystal orientation consistent with the investment-cast substrate. Some stray grains are present. The top of the deposit is encrusted with an equiaxed region due to high cooling rates and loss of thermal gradient.