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Amicrograph is an image, capturedphotographically or digitally, taken through amicroscope or similar device to show amagnified image of an object. This is opposed to amacrograph or photomacrograph, an image which is also taken on a microscope but is only slightly magnified, usually less than 10 times.Micrography is the practice or art of using microscopes to make photographs. A photographic micrograph is aphotomicrograph, and one taken with anelectron microscope is anelectron micrograph.
A micrograph contains extensive details of microstructure. A wealth of information can be obtained from a simple micrograph like behavior of the material under different conditions, the phases found in the system, failure analysis, grain size estimation, elemental analysis and so on. Micrographs are widely used in all fields of microscopy.
Alight micrograph orphotomicrograph is a micrograph prepared using anoptical microscope, a process referred to asphotomicroscopy. At a basic level, photomicroscopy may be performed simply by connecting acamera to a microscope, thereby enabling the user to take photographs at reasonably highmagnification.
Scientific use began in England in 1850 byRichard Hill NorrisFRSE for his studies of blood cells.[1]
Roman Vishniac was a pioneer in the field of photomicroscopy, specializing in the photography of living creatures in full motion. He also made major developments in light-interruption photography andcolor photomicroscopy.
Photomicrographs may also be obtained using aUSB microscope attached directly to a home computer or laptop.
Anelectron micrograph is a micrograph prepared using anelectron microscope.
Micrographs usually have micron bars, or magnification ratios, or both.
Magnification is a ratio between the size of an object on a picture and its real size. Magnification can be a misleading parameter as it depends on the final size of a printed picture and therefore varies with picture size. Ascale bar, ormicron bar, is a line of known length displayed on a picture. The bar can be used for measurements on a picture. When the picture is resized the bar is also resized making it possible to recalculate the magnification. Ideally, all pictures destined for publication/presentation should be supplied with a scale bar; the magnification ratio is optional. All but one (limestone) of the micrographs presented on this page do not have a micron bar; supplied magnification ratios are likely incorrect, as they were not calculated for pictures at the present size.
The microscope has been mainly used for scientific discovery. It has also been linked to the arts since its invention in the 17th century. Early adopters of the microscope, such asRobert Hooke andAntonie van Leeuwenhoek, were excellent illustrators.Cornelius Varley's graphic microscope made sketching from a microscope easier with a camera-lucida-like mechanism. After the invention ofphotography in the 1820s the microscope was later combined with the camera to take pictures instead of relying on an artistic rendering.
Since the early 1970s individuals have been using the microscope as an artistic instrument. Websites and traveling art exhibits such as theNikon Small World and Olympus Bioscapes have featured a range of images for the sole purpose of artistic enjoyment. Some collaborative groups, such as thePaper Project have also incorporated microscopic imagery intotactile art pieces as well as 3D immersive rooms and dance performances.
In 2015, photographer and gemologist Danny J. Sanchez photographed mineral and gemstone interiors in works referred to as "otherworldly".[2][3][4]
A paper published in 2009 described a method of photomicrography in a smartphone using a free-hand technique.[5] An operator only need focus the camera through the eyepiece of a microscope and capture a photo normally. Later, adapters were designed for the purpose and sold commercially or home-made.[6] A home-made adapter was also made using scrap materials and a Coca-Cola aluminum can.[7]
