An additive manufacturing method of fabricating an object, the method comprising: applying a pulsed laser energy to a first quantity of a metallic powder material on a substrate so as to fuse particles of the powder material into a first layer on the substrate; forming at least one additional layer on the first layer by applying a pulsed laser energy to at least a second quantity of the metallic powder material on the first layer so as to fuse particles of the powder material into the at least one additional layer on the first layer; wherein the pulsed laser energy is applied in a controlled manner such that solidification dynamics of the first and second quantities of the metallic powder material are altered to promote at least one microstructural characteristic of the object comprising the first and additional layer, wherein the controlled manner of applying the pulsed laser energy causes the pulsed laser energy to have a global energy density that causes the object to be free of microcracks and porosity, wherein the global energy density is calculated with the equation: Global Energy Density = P avg /vs, where P avg is laser peak power (P O) multiplied by duty cycle, v is scan velocity, and s is hatch spacing, wherein the controlled manner of applying the pulsed laser energy causes the pulse frequency to be 20 KHz to 50 KHz, wherein the metallic powder material is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, and alloys thereof, wherein the controlled manner of applying the pulsed laser energy causes the global energy density to be 20 to 60 J/mm 2; and wherein the duty cycle is calculated by multiplying the pulse width (τ) by the pulse frequency (f). applying a pulsed laser energy to a first quantity of a metallic powder material on a substrate so as to fuse particles of the powder material into a first layer on the substrate; forming at least one additional layer on the first layer by applying a pulsed laser energy to at least a second quantity of the metallic powder material on the first layer so as to fuse particles of the powder material into the at least one additional layer on the first layer; wherein the pulsed laser energy is applied in a controlled manner such that solidification dynamics of the first and second quantities of the metallic powder material are altered to promote at least one microstructural characteristic of the object comprising the first and additional layer, wherein the controlled manner of applying the pulsed laser energy causes the pulsed laser energy to have a global energy density that causes the object to be free of microcracks and porosity, wherein the global energy density is calculated with the equation: Global Energy Density = P avg /vs, where P avg is laser peak power (P O) multiplied by duty cycle, v is scan velocity, and s is hatch spacing, wherein the controlled manner of applying the pulsed laser energy causes the pulse frequency to be 20 KHz to 50 KHz, wherein the metallic powder material is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, and alloys thereof, wherein the controlled manner of applying the pulsed laser energy causes the global energy density to be 20 to 60 J/mm 2; and wherein the duty cycle is calculated by multiplying the pulse width (τ) by the pulse frequency (f).