Scientific imaging and microscopy applications, equipment, services, and technical guidance

Scientific imaging and microscopy applications for research, collections, and industry.

Choose the material and scientific question your images need to support—from micron-scale features to whole specimens, slides, drill core, collections, and field-scale 3D records. Compare microscopy and imaging workflows for biology, entomology, biosecurity, medical research, geology, environmental science, materials, manufacturing, forensics, food science, and cultural heritage.

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Iridescent red, blue, and violet scales on a Madagascar sunset moth wing captured at high magnification

Choose your imaging path

What do you need to document, inspect, or explain?

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Research, education, and specimen work

Plan a new lab, document specimens, connect macro and micro detail, or create useful 3D models.

Macroscopic Solutions imaging workstation installed with Dr. Sangtae Kim’s research team at Sungshin Women’s University in South Korea

Best for: New labs and shared facilities

Setting up a new lab or shared imaging facility?

Start with your samples and throughput, then build a practical equipment, software, training, and budget plan.

Plan a new lab

Lateral view of an emerald ash borer on wood, showing the complete specimen in context

Best for: Border biosecurity and customs laboratories

Need to quickly document potential invasive threats at the border?

Create whole-item, microscopic, and multi-angle records that give a remote specialist the detail needed for review.

Explore biosecurity imaging

Hymenoptera specimen image showing translucent wing detail at high magnification

Best for: Entomology, insect collections, and specimen digitization

Need an insect imaging system for research, collections, or diagnostic detail?

Compare repeatable imaging paths for individual insects, microscopic features, whole collection drawers, focus stacks, and 3D models.

Explore insect imaging

Complete biological specimen with visible fine anatomical structure

Best for: Biology, taxonomy, morphology, and natural-history collections

Need repeatable biological specimen images for research or collections?

Match whole-organism context, fine structures, drawer-scale digitization, and 3D records to the biological question.

Explore biological specimen imaging

Parasite Tracker workshop group at Chicago Field Museum

Best for: Museums, natural-history collections, drawers, and specimen archives

Need a reliable digitization workflow for specimens or collection drawers?

Choose individual-specimen, high-detail, whole-drawer, and 3D capture paths around collection care and research access.

Explore collection digitization

Controlled photographic capture of a scientific specimen for imaging and 3D reconstruction

Best for: Paleontology, fossils, morphology, and collection research

Need high-resolution fossil images, focus stacks, or 3D models?

Connect complete fossil context with fine morphology, repeatable lighting, and shareable 3D records.

Explore fossil imaging

Macroscopic Solutions plant-biosecurity imaging workstation

Best for: Botany, plants, seeds, pollen, herbarium material, and biosecurity

Need repeatable imaging of plants, seeds, pollen, or botanical collections?

Match whole-specimen context, surface detail, repeatable lighting, and high-resolution records to the plant-science question.

Explore botanical imaging

Bald-faced hornet specimen showing high-resolution focus-stacked detail

Best for: Focus stacking, extended depth of field, and controlled scientific imaging

Need a repeatable focus-stacking workflow for dimensional specimens or surfaces?

Match specimen scale, working distance, automation, lighting, and output to a practical focus-stacking system.

Explore focus stacking systems

Translucent juvenile squid photographed against a colorful cyan and yellow background

Best for: Research, collection, and field 3D models

Need a 3D model for teaching, sharing, or analysis?

Create consistent, complete image sets that can become useful 3D models—from specimens to artifacts, outcrops, and field sites.

Explore 3D models

Tapeworm layout showing complete specimen context and fine biological structure

Best for: Macro-to-micro research imaging

Need full-specimen context and microstructures?

Keep the whole specimen in view, then move into the fine structures that answer the research question.

Compare macro-to-micro imaging

Human thyroid tissue shown in a stained histology section

Best for: Medical imaging, histology, anatomy, and biomaterials research

Need to connect gross anatomy, histology slides, and microscopic detail?

Connect gross anatomy, slides, and objective-based detail in one repeatable record for research, teaching, or clinical education.

Explore medical research imaging

Diffuser and objective assembly for controlled close-up scientific imaging

Best for: Dental anatomy, materials, education, and laboratory research

Need clearer dental anatomy or material-surface imaging?

Use controlled magnification and diffuse light to reveal anatomy, restorations, models, and subtle surface detail without glare.

Explore dental imaging

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Earth, environment, and public programs

Choose repeatable imaging for core, minerals, environmental samples, collections, and public-science records.

Colorful polarized-light view of hornblende and plagioclase gneiss at five-times magnification

Best for: Mining, exploration, and mineral laboratories

Need to compare core, rock, ice, or thin sections at the right scale?

Move from core-box and hand-sample context to grains, ice, and thin sections at the scale your interpretation requires.

Compare geological imaging

Geoscientists using drill-core and petrographic imaging equipment during Macroscopic Solutions training at Aramco Services

Best for: Oil, gas, petroleum geology, and core laboratories

Need repeatable core scans, petrographic context, or 3D outputs?

Create a continuous record from core boxes and selected intervals to thin sections, 3D outputs, and archive-ready files.

Explore oil and gas imaging

Golden pollen packet and fine surface detail on a bumblebee hind leg against black

Best for: Environmental agencies, ecology, forestry, and collections

Need repeatable images of environmental, agricultural, or forestry samples?

Document insects, pollen, plants, soil monoliths, tree cores, and field observations at the scale needed for comparison.

Explore environmental imaging

USDA Beltsville facility where Macroscopic Solutions conducted specimen-imaging training

Best for: Government agencies, surveys, and public laboratories

Need a dependable visual record for a public-science, survey, or collection program?

Build a repeatable public-science record for specimens, slides, core, collections, environmental samples, and 3D work—with training and procurement support.

Explore government science

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Materials, products, and specialist records

Document surfaces, products, ingredients, crafted objects, evidence, and heritage materials at the appropriate scale.

Close-up roller-bearing surface detail at one-times magnification

Best for: Metallurgy, materials science, coatings, and surface analysis

Need metallurgical imaging from whole samples to microstructures?

Relate the whole sample to reflected-light surface detail and prepared sections, so the material feature is clear in context.

Explore metallurgy imaging

Canon EOS R5 C camera, an example of a marketable product needing repeatable product imaging

Best for: Manufacturing, quality documentation, and product inspection

Need to image or inspect marketable products?

Choose clear product documentation, controlled lighting, or measurement-first inspection around the feature or tolerance that matters.

Explore manufacturing inspection

Cheeto photographed at high magnification for food-science material-detail research

Best for: Food science, ingredients, packaging, and quality research

Need clear imaging of food structure, ingredients, or packaging?

Compare ingredients, produce, surfaces, packaging, and process samples with repeatable macro or microscopic detail.

Explore food science imaging

Diamond engagement ring showing the complete piece, setting, and fine surface detail

Best for: Jewelry, gems, craftsmanship, and luxury-product showcases

Need jewelry or gem imagery that shows the craftsmanship and fine detail?

Show the complete piece, setting, stone, and engraving with controlled magnification and glare-free multi-angle lighting.

Explore jewelry and gem imaging

Fired bullet and cartridge-casing marks shown for controlled forensic documentation

Best for: Criminal investigation, hair and fibers, bullets, marks, and trace evidence

Need clear records of hair, fibers, bullets, marks, or other trace evidence?

Preserve the whole item and the fine detail investigators need for documented specialist review.

Explore forensic documentation

Detailed image of a historic silver coin

Best for: Cultural heritage, conservation, archaeology, and artifacts

Need clear records of artifacts, conservation detail, or historic materials?

Record the complete object alongside inscriptions, surfaces, treatment stages, and shareable 3D views with controlled light.

Explore heritage imaging

Research and purchasing resources

Research, installations, and purchasing.

ResearchPublished methods and citations

Review peer-reviewed papers and technical reports that identify Macropod or Macroscopic Solutions imaging.

Read the research In practiceInstallations and collaborations

See documented university, museum, geoscience, environmental, and government research examples.

See installations Public sectorGovernment procurement

Review contracting information and request capability, quotation, and acquisition-file support.

Review government purchasing InstitutionsUniversity and company vendor setup

Start vendor onboarding and coordinate purchasing documents, freight, receiving, and quote revisions.

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