New image capturing systems

For tree-ring and wood anatomical measurements, two new image capturing systems were installed: (i) an 'Advanced Tree-Ring Image Capturing System' (ATRICS), as well as (ii) a Keyence VHX-6000 digital microscope (20x-1000x). The ATRICS system, which consists of a motorised stage and a digital camera attached to a high-quality stereo-microscope, overcomes image quality and handling problems associated with either flatbed scanners or traditional tree-ring measurement systems. Tom Levanic, who developed the ATRICS system, came over to install it in Tharandt. The Keyence digital microscope will mainly be used for wood anatomical studies, though it also features numerous other options like 3D-scanning.