A method for forming a conductive track on a surface (21) of a substrate (11) that includes providing the substrate (11), wherein the substrate (11) comprises deposited material (23) along a path on a surface (21) of the substrate (11). Generating a laser beam having an optical axis and an energy distribution within a cross-sectional area of the laser beam incident on the surface (21). The energy distribution of the laser beam is non-circularly symmetric about the optical axis at the surface (21). The method further includes directing the laser beam to move along the path to irradiate the deposited material (23) to provide a conductive track along the path. A selected orientation of the energy distribution within the cross-sectional area is aligned with the direction of movement of the laser beam.