The Advantages of a Permanent Slide

What Are Permanent Slides?

• A permanent slide is a slide that can be fixed and locked into place. While temporary slides usually have a top and a bottom with the object secured in-between, permanent slides have a top and bottom that are glued or otherwise sealed together.

Advantages to Permanent Slides

• Permanent slides have the advantage of being vacuum-sealed within the frame to prevent movement or leakage, making them ideal for transport or repeated presentational viewings. By using permanent slides, you are more likely to preserve the specimen for longer than if you were to use a temporary slide. This is especially useful if the specimen is rare.

Disadvantages to Permanent Slides

• Permanent slides can be difficult to make professionally as well as expensive to buy. Certain types of permanent slides are made for certain types of specimens. If you are not certain of the type of slide you need, you could end up with a slide that does not properly display the object you wish to magnify.

Alternatives to Permanent Slides

• Temporary slides are an inexpensive and easily obtainable alternative to permanent ones. Many modern telescopes also have digital camera components as well. It is now possible to take a picture or still image of the specimen, transfer it to a computer and project the image at a much larger size.