The columnar growth structure of amorphous cadmium arsenide thin films prepared by physical vapour deposition from crystalline Cd3As2 and CdAs, as sources was investigated by transmission electron microscopy and the carbon replica method. Amorphous cadmium arsenide films exhibit the structure generally called columnar; however, films deposited from a Cd3As2 source commonly reveal such structure even under normal-incidence (to the substrate) deposition. The evolution of columnar growth structure and its change under various deposition conditions are considered qualitatively in relation to post-nucleation island growth and the evaporation deposition process itself.