Disclosed is a method of controlling the densification behavior of a metallic feature in a ceramic material, the method including the steps of:obtaining an unsintered ceramic material having at least one metallic feature therein;providing at least the metallic feature with a predetermined amount of carbonaceous material;heating the ceramic material and metallic feature to a predetermined temperature sufficient to cause sintering of the ceramic material, the metallic feature being at least partially inhibited from densifying at the predetermined temperature by the presence of the carbonaceous material.key aspect of the invention is subsequently removing with an oxidizing ambient some or, all of the carbonaceous residue at a predetermined temperature for the optimization of the physical characterization of the fired metallic component in ceramic material without adversely affecting distortion and alignment of the metallic feature.