PHOTOGRAPHIC RELIEF IMAGE STUDIES USING LASER-SCANNING CONFOCAL MICROSCOPY

A study of relief image characteristics in photographic emulsions is m ade using laser scanning confocal microscopy. Confocal microscopy is u sed in a novel application to measure the emulsion surface and provide digital, topographical images. The relationship between height of rel ief image and developed density is analysed for 50 mu m wide line imag es formed on 35mm film, developed using fine grain and tanning develop ers. The measurements made with this technique are compared with earli er work that used fringe pattern analysis and the new results show goo d agreement with earlier findings. The higher accuracy of confocal mic roscopy is used to present new findings regarding the presence of adja cency effects in the relief image. The use of confocal 3-dimensional i maging in emulsion artefact characterization is demonstrated.