Micrograph 1 shows that nucleation during recrystallization can be promoted by non-metallic inclusions (dark). In the particular etching used here new grains appear white but the old, deformed material shows many black dots due to a high dislocation density.

Micrograph 2 shows that a grain corner can be a favourable site for the nucleation of a new grain in a lightly deformed a-brass. See to the left of the center.

Micrograph 3 shows that nucleation of new grains inside an old grain may be promoted by the intersection of shear bands.

Micrograph 4 shows that nucleation of new grains can be promoted by mechanical twins. This is a picture of Neumann bands in a ferritic Fe-Ni meteorite.

Micrograph 5 shows that recrystallization may start by an original grain bulging out into a neighbouring grain. This picture was taken on an fcc Cu-Cd alloy.

Micrograph 6 shows a similar case from pure Al taken in an electron microscope, revealing that the new part of the lower grain has a very low dislocation density whereas all the original material has a high dislocation density.