Anatase, rutile and SnO2 crystals independently precipitate from amorphous gels. Allotropic transformation of anatase to rutile is dominant in undoped case. SnO2 crystals act as heterogeneous nucleating sites for rutile growth. Coherent and semi-coherent growths of rutile are dominant In Sn-doped case. Fine anatase and rutile crystals are obtained by Sn-doping.