The optimum melting temperature and the phases which form on cooling from the melted state during melt-texturing Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2O 8 are investigated. Nearly phase-pure and highly c-axis-oriented thick films are produced under these optimum conditions. The highest-quality films are produced by melting above 955°C, where the (Sr,Ca) x Cu y O z phases melt to form (Sr,Ca)O and liquid. The heat-treatment schedule after melting includes rapid cooling to 880°C, followed by slow cooling at 0.8 K/min to 775°C. In addition to the reactions which occur on cooling, an overview of the peritectic phases which form on heating is given. The principal tools used in these investigations are dynamic observations with high-temperature powder XRD (HTXRPD) and optical microscopy, which are complimented by DTA and electron microprobe EDS.