For laser sintering, a material includes at least one powder that has been treated by heat to modify at least one of: a melting temperature of the at least one powder; and a recrystallization temperature of the at least one powder and results in the narrowing of the melting curve of the treated material relative to the untreated material. The heating can include a series of heating steps. The treatment improves the efficacies of the SLS process and product quality.