Sharper than
the eye can focus.
Focus-stacked macro and micro imaging for publication, type documentation, and collection digitisation. Available for research institutions, museums and universities across India.
01 — SERVICES INDEX
Structured by sample type and diagnostic outcome.
Every specimen requires an individual optical strategy. Six specialised imaging modalities tailored to taxonomic publication, reference collections, and institutional digitisation.
Single Specimen Imaging
Insects · Small Arthropods · Botanical
Focus-stacked macro and micro plates of individual specimens: insects, arthropods, small invertebrates, botanical material. Publication-ready, figure-composed, at agreed magnification.
Type Specimen Documentation
Primary Types · Vouchers · Genitalia
Diagnostic imaging of holotypes, paratypes and voucher material, including dorsal, lateral and genitalic preparations, to the standard required for taxonomic publication.
Collection Digitisation
Museum Trays · Series · Vouchers
Batch imaging of museum drawers, unit trays, teaching sets and reference collections, with consistent lighting, scale and metadata across the series.
Slide & Microscope Preparation Imaging
Slide Mounts · Dissections · Thin Sections
Transmitted light, brightfield and phase imaging of permanent and temporary slide preparations.
Comparative Plates
Multi-Taxa Figures · Morphometric Series
Multi-specimen figures composed for publication: aligned, scaled, labelled and laid out to journal specification.
Custom Documentation
Specialised Preparations · Non-standard
Non-standard samples, unusual magnifications, or imaging workflows developed for a specific research question.
02 — DELIVERABLES & PROCESS
What you receive with every accession.
Delivering taxonomic-grade figures requires clear standards from initial sample intake to final publication plate composition.
- ■Publication-ready diagnostic specimen plates
- ■High-resolution uncompressed digital master images
- ■Multi-specimen composite figures formatted to journal dimensions
- ■Optimised digital copies for institutional repositories and web display
* Technical delivery formats and bit-depth specifications confirmed per project requirements during initial intake.
- ■Calibrated scale indicators on every diagnostic figure
- ■Uniform colour temperature and diffused coaxial illumination
- ■Complete orientation series: dorsal, lateral, ventral, and genitalic
- ■Accompanying optical capture metadata and magnification records
* Plates composed in strict accordance with target journal formatting guidelines (e.g. Zootaxa, European Journal of Taxonomy).
- ■Initial enquiry, sample review, and quotation
- ■Domestic specimen intake and accession logging in Bengaluru
- ■Optical capture, micron-stepped stacking, and figure assembly
- ■Digital proof plates provided for researcher review and approval
* Turnaround schedules determined by accession volume and diagnostic preparation complexity.
03 — OPTICAL FACILITY
Engineered for micron-level depth capture.
Macro and micro optical rigs calibrated specifically for chitinous, iridescent, and micro-arthropod diagnostic morphology.
Motorised Linear Stepper
Automated high-precision focus rail stepping forward by micron increments, eliminating mechanical vibration across long frame sequences.
Macro & Micro Optics
Specialised manual macro objectives and microscope optical stages configured for wide field-of-view insect habitus down to micro-dissections.
Diffused Coaxial Lighting
Continuous high-CRI LED illumination paired with custom cylindrical diffusion chambers to eliminate glare and specular highlights on insect cuticle.
Dedicated Stacking Core
Specialised computational workstation executing sub-pixel alignment, pyramidal depth synthesis, and precise manual retouching of stacking artefacts.
04 — ACCESSION PROTOCOL
How are specimens handled and preserved during imaging?
Specimens are handled with museum-grade care and returned in the condition they arrived.
Material is logged upon receipt at our Bengaluru laboratory, inspected under stereomicroscopy for structural fragility, imaged with non-destructive optical staging, and repacked securely into its original container housing.
Dry-mounted (pinned) specimens, permanent and temporary slide preparations, and alcohol-preserved material are all accepted from research institutions, universities, natural history collections, and ICAR institutes across India.
Dr. Yeshwanth has confirmed that physical specimen shipping is strictly restricted to institutions within India. Due to statutory biological transfer permits and wildlife regulatory complexities, international specimen intake is not available. Taxonomic consultation and digital plate figure review remain open internationally.
05 — STRUCTURED BRIEF
Request an imaging quote.
Provide preliminary accession details below. Dr. Yeshwanth reviews each brief directly to assess optical feasibility, preparation requirements, and quotation.
Specimens accepted from research institutions, universities, ICAR centres, and museums across India. We will advise on specimen packaging and domestic transit upon receipt of this brief.