Method for creating an overview contrast image of a sample carrier in a microscope, which images a sample arranged on the sample carrier, wherein a) the sample carrier is illuminated in transmitted light from a two-dimensional illumination array which has individually switchable individual light sources, b) a plurality of different raw overview images (R1 - Rn) of the sample carrier are recorded, characterized in that each of the raw overview images (R1 - Rn) is created by switching on exactly one of the individual light sources, with a single one of the individual light sources being switched on for each raw overview image (R1 - Rn) such that N raw overview images (R1 - Rn) are recorded, c) intermediate images are created from the raw overview images (R1 - Rn) by c1) defining brightness ranks for pixels (P(i, j)) of the raw overview images (R1 - Rn), c2) assigning each intermediate image to exactly one brightness rank and c3) in each intermediate image and for each pixel (P(i, j)) of this intermediate image, searching for the raw overview image (R1 - Rn) in the raw overview images (R1 - Rn) which at the corresponding pixel (P(i, j)) has the brightness rank assigned to the respective intermediate image, and using the brightness value of the corresponding pixel (P(i, j)) of the found raw overview image (R1 - Rn), and d) the intermediate images are combined to form the overview contrast image, the intermediate image assigned to the first brightness rank not being taken into account and not being incorporated in the overview contrast image. a) the sample carrier is illuminated in transmitted light from a two-dimensional illumination array which has individually switchable individual light sources, b) a plurality of different raw overview images (R1 - Rn) of the sample carrier are recorded, characterized in that each of the raw overview images (R1 - Rn) is created by switching on exactly one of the individual light sources, with a single one of the individual light sources being switched on for each raw overview image (R1 - Rn) such that N raw overview images (R1 - Rn) are recorded, c) intermediate images are created from the raw overview images (R1 - Rn) by c1) defining brightness ranks for pixels (P(i, j)) of the raw overview images (R1 - Rn), c2) assigning each intermediate image to exactly one brightness rank and c3) in each intermediate image and for each pixel (P(i, j)) of this intermediate image, searching for the raw overview image (R1 - Rn) in the raw overview images (R1 - Rn) which at the corresponding pixel (P(i, j)) has the brightness rank assigned to the respective intermediate image, and using the brightness value of the corresponding pixel (P(i, j)) of the found raw overview image (R1 - Rn), and c1) defining brightness ranks for pixels (P(i, j)) of the raw overview images (R1 - Rn), c2) assigning each intermediate image to exactly one brightness rank and c3) in each intermediate image and for each pixel (P(i, j)) of this intermediate image, searching for the raw overview image (R1 - Rn) in the raw overview images (R1 - Rn) which at the corresponding pixel (P(i, j)) has the brightness rank assigned to the respective intermediate image, and using the brightness value of the corresponding pixel (P(i, j)) of the found raw overview image (R1 - Rn), and d) the intermediate images are combined to form the overview contrast image, the intermediate image assigned to the first brightness rank not being taken into account and not being incorporated in the overview contrast image.