A method for operating an additive manufacturing apparatus, the method comprises directing a first energy beam along a surface contour vector in a build plane. A second energy beam is directed along a plurality of substantially parallel hatch vectors disposed in the build plane inward of the surface contour vector. A sum of the surface contour vector and the plurality of hatch vectors define a processed powder region in the build plane. A third energy beam is directed along an offset contour vector in the build plane. The offset contour vector includes a plurality of unprocessed powder regions in the build plane between the surface contour vector and the plurality of hatch vectors.