In this technique, planar surfaces are prepared to obtain a polished finish. Chemical or other etching methods are often used to delineate macrostructure and microstructure features. Once prepared, samples are examined by the unaided eye, light microscopy, and/or electron microscopy. Microsectioning and metallography may reveal such information as grain size, characteristics of interfaces, and material anomalies. The microstructure features observed by metallography are directly related to the physical and mechanical properties of the material studied.

Smaller samples are embedded in plastic mounts for preparation. However, local areas of larger components can be prepared in place either in the laboratory or in the field. Examination in the field can be performed with portable microscopes or by preparing replicas of the surface for later examination in the laboratory.