Stereoscopic Images in Confocal (Tandem Scanning) Microscopy

Stereoscopic pair images with parallel projection geometry are obtained by through-focusing along two inclined axes while recording two (summed and stacked) images with a microscope with a very shallow depth of field. The two stack images sample the same depth slice of translucent or reflective specimens. The method will work most conveniently with a tandem scanning microscope (a direct-view, confocal scanning optical microscope). This is a direct method for recording stereo images that can be used to the limit of resolution in optical microscopy. It demonstrates a previously unrealized advantage of confocal optical microscopy.