Welcome to FocalPlane
FocalPlane is a community site for anyone who uses microscopy in their research. It is a place where you can interact with a global community of imaging scientists, engineers, chemists, and bioimage analysts.
FocalPlane is your site and once registered, you are free to share a blog post, add an image to our gallery, post a job advert or put up an event listing.
Create an account to share your story or to stay up-to-date with the latest news.
Recent posts
Multi-Tasking with Multi-Channel LED Illumination
Sponsored by CoolLED, on 17 April 2024
A widefield microscope can be utilised for far more than simple fluorescence experiments. By carefully choosing peripheral components including the light source, the system can open up an array of additional applications, from FRET to optogenetic stimulation and calcium imaging. LEDs are the go-to method for microscope illumination, offering many benefits in terms of performance,SciCommConnect: science communication, community connections
Posted by FocalPlane, on 16 April 2024
We are delighted to announce that we are hosting an online workshop on science communication. The workshop will be split into sections on oral communication and written communication and includes a three-minute research talk competition and collaborative writing sprints.Microscopy preprints – new tools and techniques in imaging
Posted by FocalPlane, on 5 April 2024
Here is a curated selection of preprints posted recently on new tools and techniques in imaging. Let us know if we are missing any preprints that are on your reading list.FocalPlane-elmi2024 image competition
Posted by FocalPlane, on 5 April 2024
We are delighted to launch the FocalPlane-elmi2024 image competition. Enter your favourite microscopy images for your chance to win £150 and see your image on the cover of Journal of Cell Science. Voting for the shortlisted images will begin the week before elmi2024 and continue through the conference, until we announce the winner on FridayHow to write a bug report
Posted by Mara Lampert, on 3 April 2024
Imagine you try out a software tool for the analysis of your data and for some reason it is not working in the way you expected. Neither the user documentation, nor forums like image.sc or stack overflow can provide answers. Then it is likely that you either found a bug in the software tool orEducation Strategies of Imaging Cores
Posted by Daniel Doucet, on 1 April 2024
Over the past two decades, high profile research institutions have come to rely on distinct core facilities for much of their data and image analysis. The benefits of the newest technologies are often softened by the costs of purchasing and maintaining such equipment for regular use. For microscopy and imaging, it only made sense thatQuPath and scripting – why isn’t it easier?
Posted by Laura Nicolas-Saenz, on 29 March 2024
As I explained in my previous post, this journey began because I needed to learn how to master QuPath. I turned it into a vlogging affair to be held accountable, help others, and use it to find common user problems. For the last six weeks I have explored all the ways QuPath can easily helpQuestions about FocalPlane?
Image credits
Neuromuscular junctions – Rebecca Simkins
Mitochondria and microtubules – Till Stephan
Mammary gland organoid – Oona Paavolainen
Dopaminergic neuron – Nick Gatford
CLEM HeLa cell – Marie-Charlotte Domart, Chris Peddie
Most read on FocalPlane
FocalPlane on Twitter
Tweets by @focalplane_jcsBecome a sponsor
Are you interested in becoming a sponsor for FocalPlane?
Our sister sites
The community site for
developmental biologists
Microscopy-related articles from our journals
- HCR spectral imaging: 10-plex, quantitative, high-resolution RNA and protein imaging in highly autofluorescent samples Development 2024 151: dev202307
- filoVision – using deep learning and tip markers to automate filopodia analysis J Cell Sci 2024 137: jcs261274
- Computational tools for quantifying actin filament numbers, lengths, and bundling Biology Open 2024 13: bio.060267
Gallery categories
- Confocal microscopyApply
- Spinning disc micros..copyApply
- Super-resolution mic..roscopyApply
- Single plane illumin..ation microscopy (SPIM / Light sheet)Apply
- Total internal refle..ction fluorescence (TIRF) microscopyApply
- Electron microscopyApply
- Multi-photon microsc..opyApply
- Label-free microscop..yApply
- DyesApply
- Genetic probesApply
- Optical manipulationApply
- Functional imagingApply