Basics of digital microscopy.

Digital microscopy combines the equipment of classic light microscopy with a computerized imaging system, i.e., a digital camera. This technique comprises image formation by optics, image registration by a camera, and saving of image data in a computer file. This chapter describes limitations that are particular to each of these processes, including optical resolution, efficiency of image registration, and characteristics of image file formats. Knowledge with regard to these limitations serves, in turn, to help construct a set of guidelines aimed at optimization of digital microscopic imaging.