The applet initializes with the specimen and reticule focus and illumination values randomly chosen. Use the Specimen Focus slider to focus the image of the specimen, then switch to the Reticule Focus slider to do the same for the photomicrography reticule. The Lamp Intensity slider can be used to increase or decrease specimen brightness. Select between specimens using the Choose A Specimen pull-down menu. Both Olympus and Nikon provide reticules that offer a choice of colors in their high-end microscopes.
Microscopists can choose between a red or yellow illuminated reticule.
The red reticule has the advantage of maintaining the dark adaptation of the observer's eye and provides excellent contrast when viewed over blue and green secondary fluorescence. For red fluorescence and when simultaneous phase contrast or DIC are used, the yellow reticule should be selected to maximize contrast. Some manufacturers offer a focusing telescope with illuminated framing reticule that attaches as a focusing telescope and allows viewing of the film frame dimensions over the dark field. Authors Mortimer Abramowitz - Olympus America, Inc., Two Corporate Center Drive., Melville, New York, 11747. All Rights Reserved .