Solving problems with illumination, focus, and detail in color photomicrography

The user of a microscope with an attached camera or a photomicroscope must understand the basic procedures of setting up and adjusting the photomicroscope for optimum imagery and must be able to identify certain optical misalignments and other causes of flawed color photomicrographs. In addition to problems with illumination, focus, and detail in color photomicrography, the optical functions and alignment of the microscope are discussed. This article, the first in a two-part series, addresses three of five common problems encountered in photomicrography.