title: A Scalable and Modular Dome Illumination System for Scientific Microphotography on a Budget.
abstract: A scalable and modular LED illumination dome for microscopic scientific photography is described and illustrated, and methods for constructing such a dome are detailed. Dome illumination for insect specimens has become standard practice across the field of insect systematics, but many dome designs remain expensive and inflexible with respect to new LED technology. Further, a one-size-fits-all dome cannot accommodate the large breadth of insect size encountered in nature, forcing the photographer to adapt, in some cases, to a less than ideal dome design. The dome described here is scalable, as it is based on a isodecahedron, and the template for the dome is available as a downloaded file from the internet that can be printed on any printer, on the photographer's choice of media. As a result, a photographer can afford, using this design, to produce a series of domes of various sizes and materials, and LED ring lights of various sizes and color temperatures, depending on the need.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Rodovia Dourados-Itahum, Km 12, Cidade Universitária, CEP 79804-970, Dourados-MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kawada
authors.affiliation: Systematic Entomology Laboratory, ARS-USDA, c/o National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 10th & Constitution Ave NW, MRC 168, PO Box 30712, Washington, DC 20013, United States of America.
authors.forename: Matthew L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Buffington
mesh_terms: D003363:Cost Control; D004867:Equipment Design; D008029:Lighting; D010784:Photomicrography / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*