Direct Metal Deposition as a method of Additive Manufacturing is widely used in many industrial fields and promises wider use due to its potential of building fine tracks as well as structures with high build-up rates. In order to guarantee a high powder-usage efficiency and a minimum contamination of the environment, the incorporation process of the powder into the melt pool needs to be better understood. Therefore, single additive tracks were built at varying powder application direction and gas flow rates. An evaluation of the track dimensions revealed that powder application properties affect the track dimensions and the powder input efficiency. The gas pressure and the application angle can influence the melt pool shape and thereby the powder input efficiency. A higher gas pressure possibly deforms the melt pool to a steeper surface, resulting in a higher probability of powder particle incorporation.