We have investigated the formation of poly(gamma-benzyl L-glutamate) (PBLG) crystals from semidilute thin film solutions. Crystallization was initiated by adding methanol, a nonsolvent. After drying, each PBLG crystal possessed an internal domain structure exhibiting a zigzag pattern consisting of parallel stripes of alternating orientations between domains. X-ray scattering and electron diffraction revealed within these crystals a pseudohexagonal packing of the PBLG alpha-helices with their axis oriented parallel to the plane of the substrate. On the basis of optical anisotropy studies, it could be shown that the orientation of the helix axis was parallel to the stripes. While forming in solution, the objects are assumed to consist of a hexagonal columnar liquid crystalline phase. Upon drying, lateral packing density of the helices increased and resulted in a net dilative strain perpendicular to the columns, which is supposed to cause the formation of zigzag patterns.