High-resolution digital camera
Conventional photographic processes are rapidly being replaced by electronic means of capturing microscopic images. Only recently have electronic means reached the quality of conventional photography, either color or black and white. For light microscopy, the conventional camera can be replaced with an electronic capture unit using a high-resolution CCD electronic chip in a video camera that conveys the image to a computer monitor and also stores it on a disk drive. In some cases, the image may need to be scanned slowly or repeatedly, in order to obtain a strong signal-to-noise ratio. The image can be printed out directly, or processed using software in the computer such as Adobe« PhotoShop«. Shown in this illustration is a high-resolution digital camera made by Leaf Systems model MicroLumina-200TM which is mounted on a light microscope and provides image output to a personal computer.
Images are captured on the scanning electron microscope by taking a time exposure of a single raster from the cathode ray tube using a camera with conventional film, or by converting the analog signal to a digital one and then writing the information directly to a computer. The image may then be treated as in the case of light microscopic images.
Digital images are also possible from the transmission electron microscope, but with greater difficulty. A high-resolution CCD camera is inserted into the electron beam pathway (therefore, within the vacuum) to capture an image. Such digital images from both scanning and transmission electron microscopy may then be utilized in a variety of image analysis and image processing programs to measure geometric parameters, colorize, make three dimensional models, etc.
Photograph courtesy of Scitex Corporation, Ltd.