Posts that relate to the Keyword: Techniques

Fructose Mounting Medium for Permanent Slides

Many mounting media for making permanent microscope slides include organic solvents and are less suitable for the use in classrooms, at home and with children. In this article I would like to show you how to make fructose syrup to be used as a safe mounting medium.

Enhancing Photomicrographs

There are a range of different possibilities: Enhancing contrast: Photo editing software (such as Adobe Photoshop or GIMP) contain functions that enhance the contrast of an image. Find the menu point “Auto Levels” or simply “Levels”. This tool will make the darkest part of the image black (even if it was not black before) and [...]

Oblique Illumination

Oblique illumination is a contrast enhancing technique which can be realized with the use of home-made filters (patch stops) placed into the filter holder of the microscope condenser.

Darkfield Microscopy

Darkfield microscopy is one of the simplest and cheapest contrast enhancing techniques. It works well for specimens that have a refractive index which is different from its surrounding medium, but which are difficult to see because they lack color. Dark field microscopy shows the specimen bright on a dark background.

Working with the condenser aperture diaphragm

The condenser aperture diaphragm (or iris diaphragm) is used to control the contrast and resolution of an image. This article explains the usage of the diaphragm.

Adjusting Koehler Illumination

Koehler illumination ensures that the specimen receives a bright uniform light. Only those areas actually seen are illuminated.

Simple Polarization Microscopy

It is not necessary to purchase a dedicated polarizing microscope to observe specimens in polarized light. A pair of linear polarizing filters is enough.

Enhancing Contrast

This article briefly outlines some contrast enhancing techniques that are used in microscopy.