Here are a few Web sites which illustrate the sort of work involved. Normally the specimen will be examined and described by making notes and drawings, usually it will also be photographed, and it will often need to be carefully measured. Particular features may require counting for statistical analysis or for stereology. If photographs have been taken they are usually developed and printed by the microscopist in a specially equipped darkroom. Sometimes this work is farmed out to a commercial processing lab, but usually not.
Photomicrographs have special requirements that are often hard to explain to a non-microscopist.
Image analysis and image processing are becoming more widely used as computers fall in price and continue to increase in speed and power. Image analysis provides measurements of area, perimeter and number of features, image processing modifies the contrast range, enhances edges or introduces false colours. Using these techniques to full effect can be time consuming too. Writing up results is an important part of every scientist's work. It may not be very glamorous and is often overlooked by the layman, but results are of no value if they are not communicated.