Nikon Small World

This image, from an area that is no larger than a period at the end of a sentence, shows what eye-popping colors and structures are in sheets of paper. Kazilek, who has degrees in both science and art, captured this image as part of an ongoing project that studies historic and contemporary handmade papers.

Kazilek used scanning-laser confocal imaging to capture this image. This technique provides intense color and great detail not possible with other microscopic systems. Past microscopes could image the color or the detail of the paper, but no microscope before confocal systems could do both.

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Learn about optical microscopy, digital imaging, and photomicrography.

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From the nanoworld to the universe — the worlds we measure using our infinite yardstick.

Enjoy learning about Nikon’s long history through a series of interactive episodes.