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Viewed up-close using a microscope, the micro circuitry of a computer chip resembles the streets and buildings of an urban city as viewed from the air. With the correct lighting, an amazing rainbow of colors will reflect from the circuitry of many computer chips and silicon wafers. Some computer chips even have hidden words or artwork put on them by their original creators during the design process.
Learn more about the Intel Play QX3 and the Digital Blue QX5 Microscopes
Close-up Images of Computer Chips using an Intel Play QX3 Microscope
Smithsonian CPU Chip in Lapel Pin
 1X |  60X |
Intel Pentium II CPU Chip in Lapel Pin showing BGA (ball grid array)
|  200X |
Intel MCS-96 Microcontroller Chip in Keychain
|  200X |
Intel Pentium 60mhz CPU Chip in Keychain
|  200X |
Intel 486 CPU Chip in Keychain
|  200X |
Microscopic Silicon Art hidden on Computer Chips
'Owls' Silicon Art
Also known as chip art, silicon art, microchip graffiti or photomicrography, was popular in the 1970's & 80's. This practice of adding useless images, words and signatures to chip designs is mostly banned by the major semiconductor companies today.
Chip art is composed of microscopic images that have been placed on a computer chip by the original mask designers. These images (such as Mickey Mouse, Daffy Duck, the engineer's signature, or a variety of slogans) are so small they can only be seen with a microscope (for example, three of them next to each other would equal the width of a human hair).
The idea to originally start putting these images on chips was to help with identifying un-original chip designs that had been cloned or copied illegally. But in 1984, the U.S. Congress passed the Semiconductor Chip Protection Act. Pre-1984, graffiti was the only way to prove copying; the fact that the rest of the mask was identical was not sufficient proof. After 1984, an identical copy of a mask's working parts was an automatic copyright violation, and graffiti served no useful purpose.
Chip art is composed of microscopic images that have been placed on a computer chip by the original mask designers. These images (such as Mickey Mouse, Daffy Duck, the engineer's signature, or a variety of slogans) are so small they can only be seen with a microscope (for example, three of them next to each other would equal the width of a human hair).
The idea to originally start putting these images on chips was to help with identifying un-original chip designs that had been cloned or copied illegally. But in 1984, the U.S. Congress passed the Semiconductor Chip Protection Act. Pre-1984, graffiti was the only way to prove copying; the fact that the rest of the mask was identical was not sufficient proof. After 1984, an identical copy of a mask's working parts was an automatic copyright violation, and graffiti served no useful purpose.
Professional Quality Microscopic Chip Photography
Intel Pentium 4 Die Close-up
Using a high-powered optical microscope at a relatively low magnification set between 25X and 100X. Then, to make the circuitry "pop" for a more richly detailed photo, the chip is lit with a tungsten-halogen light. Details can be better seen at magnifications up to 600x to 2000x.
Both Nikon and Olympus have educational websites covering Microscopic Lighting & Photography techniques for hobbyists. Both companies make high quality optical microscopes.
Both Nikon and Olympus have educational websites covering Microscopic Lighting & Photography techniques for hobbyists. Both companies make high quality optical microscopes.
Photographing Chips and Wafers
An Intel 8' Wafer filled with colorful chips
Silicon wafers are a macro photographers heaven. Every color in the rainbow is present on an illuminated wafer due to the way the light reflects off of the wafers etched surface.
With the correct lighting, many of the chips architectural features can be seen.
With the correct lighting, many of the chips architectural features can be seen.
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More Info on Exploring & Photographing Chips
 Close-up of an Intel Penitum III CPU chip | IC Die Photography |
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