[en] Scintillator bodies comprising fluorescent materials and having high optical translucency with low light absorption and methods of making the scintillator bodies are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the scintillator bodies are formed by a hot-pressing process. In another embodiment, coldpressing followed by sintering is employed. Another embodiment employs controlled cooling. Another embodiment employs hotforging. The scintillator bodies that result are easily machined to desired shapes and sizes