The existing methods to prepare crystals with controlled lattice parameters gradients are based on techniques that use accurate programmable temperature control and, often, a crucible. Little efforts have been made to adapt a crucibleless technique to prepare this kind of materials. Here we report on a procedure to design and grow crystals of any multinary oxide system having this property by the laser-heated pedestal growth technique. We studied the system CaMoO4-SrMoO4 with the purpose of obtaining crystals having a full solubility range. Preliminary data on composition and crystal perfection of these crystals show that they gather enough requirements for several technological applications. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.