BaTiO3 and PZT films were prepared by single-step dip-coating from alkoxide-acetate solutions containing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Crack-free BaTiO3 and PZT films over 1 μm in thickness were obtained via single-step deposition. Stepwise heating of the gel films was found to improve densification of BaTiO3 films, reducing the thickness and increasing the optical transmittance, which was not, however, the case with PZT films, where the stepwise heating rather induced crack formation, leading to degraded transmittance. Residual stress was evaluated on spin-coating BaTiO3 films by measuring the substrate curvature, where a significant reduction in tensile stress was found to be caused by PVP.