Methods for additive-ablative fabrication

A method for solid free-form fabrication (SFF), the method comprising:

• receiving SFF data collectively pertaining to a three-dimensional shape of an object that includes multiple layers, the SFF data comprising a plurality of slice data each defining a layer among the multiple layers of the object;
• dispensing a building material containing a solvent;
• drying the building material so as to remove at least some of the solvent from the building material;
• leveling the building material;
• selectively ablating the building material, for at least several of the multiple layers, according to the slice data corresponding to the layer;
• dispensing at least one additional building material onto the building material to fill vacant regions formed in the multiple layers by the selective ablation, wherein a resolution of the dispensing of the additional building material is less than a resolution of the selective ablation;
• elevating a receiving medium by an amount less than a thickness of a single layer prior to leveling the at least one additional building material, such that leveling removes the at least one additional building material from non-vacant regions of the multiple layers while leaving the at least one additional building material within the vacant regions to fill the vacant regions;
• and
• following the leveling of the at least one additional building material, removing debris deposition and/or residue of the at least one additional building material on the non-vacant regions by applying a laser beam at a set of parameters different from parameters used for the selective ablating.