An important aspect of microfossil research and documentation is the adequate illustration of specimens using various techniques. Some of the latest work of Dr Michael Knappertsbusch, Curator for micropaleontology at Naturhistorisches Museum Basel, relates to the development of techniques that allow the illustration of microfossils in three dimensions by stereography and animated light micrography. Usually, the resolution of a light optical system is affected by a number of physical factors resulting in the limited ability to illustrate objects at full focal depth. Using advanced techniques in digital image processing it is possible to overcome these difficulties and microscopic specimens can be illustrated at full focus, at various angles of view, and in stereo vision.

Leica MZ6 binocular microscope with CCD color video camera, connected to a Power Macintosh. Dr Michael Knappertsbusch, Natural History Museum in Basel