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I have recently joined the confocal microscopy list, so apologies if this post is not reaching the 
correct people. I am following up on a thread I was forwarded by a colleague from September 
2014 regarding targets for determining distortion over an imaging volume. We have been 
trialling a new solution which I have found particularly useful for sensitive measurements of 
distortion within an image volume. 

The solution is a fluorescent slide in which a 3D fabrication pattern has been laser written. The 
fabrication points appear dark in single and two-photon fluorescence. There is the flexibility to 
write any pattern although I have so far been using a columnar pattern on a 10um square 
grid. The plastic slides are very robust and come in a range of fluorophores. If you think this 
approach might be useful, you can find more details by first downloading the (open access) 
paper describing it here: 
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2014.00384/abstract

If you would like to try it for yourself then please contact me and we will see about arranging a 
free trial. 

Best regards, Alex.