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Use Case

Restoration, Conservation & Exhibition

Non-destructive imaging that protects collections, informs conservation, and inspires audiences.

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Preserve the past. Reveal what's next.

Museums safeguard cultural treasures, artworks, and scientific collections for generations to come. Preserving this heritage means balancing the needs of science, art, and the public, studying fragile objects without harm, guiding restoration with precision, and inspiring audiences through shared discovery. From revealing the finest surface details to visualizing hidden structures in 3D, ZEISS provides non-destructive imaging solutions that support careful conservation and open new ways to connect with the past.

Imaging that serves art, science, and the public

Every collection has a story to tell. Imaging helps conservators, scientists, and curators uncover and share it without compromise.
ZEISS VersaXRM

Non-destructive 3D imaging to reveal hidden structures in fragile artifacts and natural history specimens

ZEISS Axioscan 7

Automated slide digitization for reliable, long-term preservation

ZEISS Axio Imager 2

Analyze pigments, fibers, and varnishes with polarization, DIC and fluorescence imaging

ZEISS Stemi 508

Detailed, non-destructive imaging for art and museum conservation

ZEISS EVO SEM

Reveal pigment structure and composition to guide art conservation

Tools to protect collections, guide conservation, and share discoveries

Museums face unique imaging challenges: fragile artifacts must be studied without damage, restoration decisions depend on color fidelity, and many objects are too large or delicate to move from their galleries. Conservators also need tools that reveal microstructure, surface composition, and even internal features hidden beneath the surface, all while preserving the integrity of priceless collections. Beyond conservation labs, there’s an increasing demand to share discoveries with the public in ways that are accurate, engaging, and accessible.

ZEISS imaging solutions are designed with these needs in mind. From long-working-distance stereo microscopes for safe hands-on work, to advanced contrast techniques for analyzing pigments and fibers, to non-destructive 3D microCT for seeing inside objects, ZEISS helps museums address the full spectrum of conservation and research workflows. Integrated imaging and data tools also make it easier to document findings, collaborate across teams, and create compelling visual experiences that bring heritage science to life for audiences. 

  • Preserve every detail without damage

    Safely study priceless objects with non-destructive imaging solutions that maintain integrity while uncovering structural and material details.

  • Comprehensive imaging across every scale

    From stereo zoom for delicate restoration work to advanced contrast microscopy, SEM, and microCT for research and preservation, ZEISS provides one ecosystem that supports the full spectrum of museum imaging needs.

  • Interactive discovery for every audience

    With intuitive designs and seamless digital connectivity, ZEISS imaging tools make it easy to share discoveries on large displays, tablets, or online platforms. From conservation labs to gallery spaces, museums can transform scientific analysis into interactive learning experiences for visitors, students, researchers, and curators.

portrait of Queen Anne

Portrait of Queen Anne at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery (GVAG) in Swansea, UK.
User Story

Queen Anne and the mystery of the blue pigment

Using optical cross-sections and SEM-EDX analysis, a UK team uncovered the chemistry behind a distinctive blue pigment in this historic portrait, shedding light on its age and authenticity. The project also brought conservation science into the gallery, where visitors experienced live microscope viewing of the painting in progress.

I hadn’t realized before, how many ways there are to look at the painting, and how each would give us different information. I feel that now we are going to have a whole new level of understanding and insight into this painting.

Jenny Williamson Glynn Vivian Art Gallery (GVAG) | Wales, UK
  • Ars Electronica Center Linz, Austria

    Ars Electronica Center Linz, Austria
    Real World Application

    Science and education with ZEISS microscopes

    ZEISS collaborates with museums and cultural institutions worldwide to bring high-quality microscopy into public spaces, enriching both museum experiences and education programs. A leading example is the Ars Electronica Center in Linz, Austria, where visitors of all ages use ZEISS microscopes in fully equipped labs to explore subjects like genetics, neuroscience, materials science, and artificial intelligence.

    These initiatives reflect ZEISS Microscopy’s broader Education & Teaching mission: making professional-grade imaging tools accessible beyond the research lab. By supplying upright and inverted light microscopes, fluorescence systems, and even entry-level electron microscopes, ZEISS enables museums and science centers to integrate real scientific methods into curricula, exhibitions, and hands-on workshops.

    Through these partnerships, ZEISS helps institutions inspire curiosity, strengthen scientific literacy, and connect audiences with art, technology, and society. Visitors don’t just observe, they investigate, experiment, and experience how microscopy reveals hidden structures and processes that shape our world.

Recommended products

  • Greenough Stereo Microscope with 8:1 Zoom

    ZEISS Stemi 508

    Thanks to apochromatic optics you acquire high contrast images with color accuracy. With the 8:1 zoom you bring up smallest details. Stemi 508 offers an ergonomic viewing angle of 35° - stay relaxed even after hours of work.

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    Explore the Stemi 508

  • Modular SEM Platform for Intuitive Operation, Routine Investigations and Research Applications

    ZEISS EVO SEM

    With its comprehensive range of available options, EVO can be tailored precisely to your requirements, whether you are in life sciences, material sciences, or routine industrial quality assurance and failure analysis.

    Explore the EVO SEM

  • Crisp and Brilliant Images throughout the Whole 8:1 Manual Zoom Range

    ZEISS SteREO Discovery.V8

    Acquire crisp and brilliant images throughout the whole 8:1 zoom range. The selectable click-stops for discrete magnification steps allow you to calibrate pixel sizes in the imaging software ZEN.

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    Explore the SteREO Discovery.V8

  • Powerful, Non-Invasive Insights Beneath the Surface

    ZEISS VersaXRM

    ZEISS X-ray microscopes (VersaXRM) provides non-destructive, high-resolution, 3D X-ray imaging ideal for museum collections. It enables researchers to visualize the internal structure of specimens, like fossils, minerals, and textiles, without causing damage, supporting applications in conservation, digitization, and authentication.

    Explore the VersaXRM

  • Ergonomic Operation and Efficient Digital Documentation

    ZEISS Axiolab 5

    ZEISS Axiolab 5 is the right choice if your routine materialography applications place high demands on ergonomic operation and efficient digital documentation. Since the Smart Microscopy concept does not require additional imaging software or even a computer, Axiolab 5 is also the first choice from an economic point of view.

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    Explore the Axiolab 5

  • High-Performance Digital Slide Scanning Tailored to Your Application Needs

    ZEISS Axioscan 7

    Create high-resolution digital archives of microscopic specimens, facilitate research and conservation, and offer unique virtual exhibits. As a high-speed, automated slide scanner, it can digitize up to 100 slides in a single, unsupervised run.

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    Explore the Axioscan 7
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Shop Microscopes Online

Precision At Your Fingertips

Upgrade your exhibitions with ZEISS advanced microscopy solutions. Bundles available to buy, quote or trial for free online.

 

Configure your Stemi 305

ZEISS Lab Essentials

  • Microscope for Research and Routine in the Materials Lab

    ZEISS Axioscope for Materials
    Buy or Try the Stemi 508

    The upright light microscope ZEISS Axioscope was designed specifically to meet the most common optical imaging requirements of materials laboratories.

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  • Microscope for Routine Materialography and Smart Documentation

    ZEISS Axiolab 5 for Materials
    Buy or Try the Primovert

    Digital documentation has never been easier. ZEISS Axiolab 5 is the right choice if your routine materialography applications place high demands on ergonomic operation and efficient digital documentation.

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  • Your Microscope for Digital Teaching and Routine Lab

    ZEISS Primostar 3
    Buy or Try the Axioscope 5

    The ZEISS Primostar 3 is a robust and user-friendly microscope designed for educational and routine laboratory applications. It features factory aligned, or fully adjustable Koehler illumination based upon the application or educational requirements.

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Restoration, conservation & exhibition microscopy FAQs

  • Yes, ZEISS imaging solutions allow conservators to examine delicate objects safely and without damaging contact. Stereo microscopes provide clear, stable views for precision restoration, while ZEISS X-ray imaging systems uncover hidden internal structures in 3D without the need for sectioning.

  • Yes, ZEISS stereo and zoom microscopes on boom stands make it possible to perform in-situ examinations of murals, textiles, sculptures, or other delicate items that are too large or fragile to place on a stage.

  • Precise documentation requires both optical fidelity and reproducibility. ZEISS Axiocam color cameras capture calibrated, true-to-life images, while ZEN software enables stitched mosaics of large surfaces, z-stacks for full depth of field, and annotated reports, delivering consistent records that support long-term conservation and research.

  • Yes, ZEISS Axioscan slide scanner enables unattended, high-throughput digitization of natural history slides and thin sections. Collections can be fully archived, shared online, or integrated into databases for global access.

  • ZEISS Axio Imager provides high optical precision with advanced contrast methods: polarization for pigments and crystals, DIC for subtle surface relief, and UV/fluorescence for varnishes and organic residues. Axiolab and Axioscope systems offer polarization and other contrast techniques in durable, easy-to-use platforms well suited for conservation labs. When broader context is needed, Axio Zoom.V16 bridges large-area overviews with detailed imaging. For nanoscale structure and elemental composition, ZEISS EVO SEM offers high-resolution surface analysis in variable pressure mode, making it possible to examine delicate, non-conductive samples without coating.

  • ZEISS Labscope connects microscopes to tablets, large displays, or online platforms, making live demonstrations accessible in classrooms or galleries. ZEISS arivis transforms 3D scans into interactive visualizations and animations that bring hidden structures to life for visitors. For broader access, ZEISS Axioscan digitizes entire slide collections for teaching or online exhibits, while Axiocam cameras and connected stereo microscopes make it easy to share microscope views instantly with audiences.
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