Nov 10, 2025 by IDEX Health & Science From Problem to Performance: A Custom Filter that Transformed Imaging Quality When a customer came to us with a persistent imaging problem, we saw an opportunity, not just to solve it, but to redefine what is possible to achieve and measure in optical filter performance. The customer was using a competitor’s filter in a multi-band fluorescent imaging system using laser excitation (trace shown in red in the figure above). The filter performance was adequate in theory, with the laser wavelengths falling within the blocking regions shown shaded in the figure above. In practice, however, the results were disappointing: Image backgrounds were not consistently black, and blocking performance varied significantly between instruments and over time. The Hidden Problem: What Traditional Tools Couldn’t See The filter’s blocking notches are narrow and deep—too narrow and deep, in fact, for traditional spectrophotometers to measure accurately. That’s where our proprietary KolaDeep™ Spectral Measurement System came to the rescue, as it is uniquely capable of resolving ultra-deep blocking levels, even when high-transmission passbands are tightly adjacent. In response, IDEX Health & Science designed a superior Semrock filter (performance shown in green in the figure) that delivers: OD > 8 blocking in every laser channel Steeper edges across all nine transitions Wider passbands in all five channels Proof of Performance We measured the newly manufactured filter; see the blue trace in the figure. The results? OD 9 blocking levels, so deep they hit the noise floor of our measurement system. That is not just good—it is exceptional. Why Work with IDEX Health & Science? This is not just a success story—it’s a blueprint for collaboration. We bring together world-class expertise to designing our Semrock optical filters, precision manufacturing, and advanced measurement, to ensure that every filter meets its exacting performance specifications. From concept to production to validation, we partner with you to solve complex imaging challenges. Whether you're advancing fluorescence imaging or developing next-generation diagnostic tools, we deliver filters that strike the perfect balance of performance, quality, and cost. Precision meets Partnership: Let’s Innovate Together.