A method of forming a three-dimensional object, is carried out by: providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, the carrier and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, intermittently irradiating the build region with light through the optically transparent member to form a solid polymer from the polymerizable liquid, and continuously or intermittently advancing the carrier away from the build surface to form the three-dimensional object from the solid polymer. In some embodiments, the filling, irradiating, and/or advancing steps are carried out while also concurrently: (i) continuously maintaining a dead zone of polymerizable liquid in contact with the build surface, and (ii) continuously maintaining a gradient of polymerization zone between the dead zone and the solid polymer and in contact with each thereof, the gradient of polymerization zone comprising the polymerizable liquid in partially cured form.