How to make microscopy images that are color blind friendly
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 7, 2026

Excitation-Scanning Hyperspectral Imaging Microscopy to Efficiently Discriminate Fluorescence Signals
Published on: August 22, 2019
1Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology and Warwick Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
Abstract:
These days, there is increased awareness about color blindness (also known as color vision deficiency) and figure accessibility. During peer review, referees are now more likely to request changes to color palettes in papers to assist color blind readers. This is a positive change, and of course it is best to check that our images are accessible. However, it is less useful when referees reflexively request changes because they believe that certain color combinations should be 'outlawed' for reasons of accessibility. What I mean is: some scientists believe that all red-green-blue overlays are fundamentally bad for accessibility. In this short Essay, I try to set out why that view is misguided and to provide some practical solutions to the problem.
Related Concept Videos
Imaging Biological Samples with Optical Microscopy
In optical microscopy, the specimen to be viewed is placed on a glass slide and clipped on the stage...
Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy
Color Vision
Fixation and Sectioning
The simplest type of preparation is the wet mount, in which the specimen is placed in a drop of liquid on the slide. A liquid specimen can be directly deposited on the slide using a dropper. Solid specimens, such as skin scraping, can be placed on the slide before adding a drop of liquid to prepare the wet mount. Sometimes the liquid is simply water, but stains are often added...

