The University of Victoria's Advanced Imaging Laboratory was established in 1971 thirty to support the Department of Biology's teaching and research programs through still and motion imaging. The laboratory's activities include the gathering of visual information using techniques as diverse as whole specimen photography, macro photography, conventional microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, time-lapse video and gel scanning. Computer based analysis of images uses software including SigmaPlot for scientific graphing and NIH Image, ImageJ, Northern Exposure and Image Pro Plus for biological morphometry.

    The lab also prepares visual presentation materials for publications, conferences and class use.  We use traditional photography and computer based image manipulation and design with Adobe CS 5.5 Photoshop, Illustrator and Indesign. The lab's resources include eight Pentium computers and an Apple Power Mac G5 computer that are equipped with peripherals including 35mm and 4" x 5" film scanners, flatbed scanners, digital cameras and video image capture boards. Our output devices include black and white and colour laser printers, colour inkjet printers, a 35mm and 120 film recorder and rewritable CD-ROM and DV-ROM recorders.  All of our computers are FTP servers.

    Microscopy and macro photography remains a major part of the lab's function.  Our resources include a Zeiss Axiovert 100 microscope, a Zeiss Ultraphot and three Zeiss Universal epifluorescence microscopes, a large Reichert Polyvar epifluorescence microscope and a Leica DM LB2 epifluorescence microscope.  These instruments are equipped for techniques including phase contrast, Nomarski differential contrast, darkfield, polarization and fluorescence.  Each microscope has either a Spot RT-KE, a Spot Flex or a Nikon DXM 1200 cameras.

    Other polarization instruments with epi-illumination include a Wild M20, a Zeiss epi-scope and a modified Reichert/Olympus microscope. Still and video macro photography is undertaken with a Wild M420 macro camera, a Leitz Aristophot as well as vertical stand mounted cameras. Copy camera systems include 35mm Nikons, a 6x7 cm. Mamiya and 4" by 5" Polaroid and Linhof cameras along with Fuji FinePix S2 and Nikon D200 digital cameras.

    The Advanced Imaging Laboratory includes a wide variety of digital solutions. Video facilities include digital production and editing equipment using Apple Quick Time Pro. Members of the Biology Department borrow equipment from the AIL for lab and field use averaging 220 loans annually. In addition to consultations with many members of the university community each year the staff of the AIL answers an average of 120 requests from the public for information about microscopy and scientific imaging. The Advanced Imaging Laboratory's functions also include the purchase, repair and maintenance of the Department of Biology's almost 800 microscopes as well as those of the Bamfield Marine Science Centre.