# What Is It? > Plain answers to the questions we are asked most: what these instruments are, what they measure, and how the measurement works. Source: https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/ We receive many questions about some of the science and topics that are part of the work we do in providing the Microspectrophotometer and Microspectrometer solutions for UV-visible-NIR microanalysis. In this section are a number of articles we wrote to help people understand the work we do and some of the science involved in our high-tech industry. ## The instruments What the thing on the bench actually is. - [What Is a Spectrophotometer?](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/what-is-a-spectrophotometer/) A spectrophotometer is a device measures the intensity of electromagnetic energy at each wavelength of light in a specified region. - [What Is a Microspectrophotometer?](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/what-is-a-microspectrophotometer/) A microspectrophotometer is a cutting-edge scientific instrument designed to measure the spectra of microscopic samples. - [What Is a Raman Microspectrometer?](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/raman-microspectrometer/) The Raman microspectrometer is a scientific instrument used to measure the Raman spectra of microscopic samples. - [What Is the Function of a Spectrophotometer?](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/what-is-the-function-of-a-spectrophotometer/) Spectrophotometry is a scientific technique used to measure the intensity of light either transmitted through or reflected from gas, liquid or solid samples. ## The measurements What a spectrum is used to work out. - [Film Thickness](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/film-thickness/) Thin films are layers of materials with thicknesses ranging from a few atoms to microns. - [Vitrinite Reflectance](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/how-to-analyze-coal/) Coal is composed of macerals, the organic components found in coal, kerogen, and other petroleum source rocks. Macerals include vitrinite, inertinite, and liptinite. - [Display Colorimetry](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/display-colorimetry/) Color of individual pixels and groups of pixels can be measured and compared using microspectrometers. - [Microcolorimetry](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/microcolorimetry/) Microcolorimetry is measuring the color of microscopic features using color spaces. ## The samples and the optics What the light is doing before it reaches the detector. - [Intrinsic Protein Fluorescence](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/intrinsic-protein-fluorescence/) Proteins, including protein crystals, can fluoresce without adding any dyes if they contain the appropriate amino acids in high enough concentrations and is excited… - [Ultraviolet Absorption of Proteins](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/protein-absorption/) Proteins, such as those in animal tissue and plants, strongly absorb ultraviolet (UV) light at approximately 280 nm. - [Microscope Objective Classes](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/what-are-microscope-objective-classes/) Microscope objectives can be quite complex devices using either lenses or mirrors to collect and focus light. ## Pages in this section - [Display Colorimetry](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/display-colorimetry/): Color of individual pixels and groups of pixels can be measured and compared using microspectrometers. - [Film Thickness](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/film-thickness/): How to measure the thickness of thin films, from a few atoms to microns thick, with non-contact optical methods and a microspectrophotometer. - [Vitrinite Reflectance](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/how-to-analyze-coal/): Coal is composed of macerals, the organic components found in coal, kerogen, and other petroleum source rocks. - [Intrinsic Protein Fluorescence](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/intrinsic-protein-fluorescence/): Proteins, including protein crystals, can fluoresce without adding any dyes if they contain the appropriate amino acids in high enough concentrations and is… - [Microcolorimetry](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/microcolorimetry/): Microcolorimetry is measuring the color of microscopic features using color spaces. - [Ultraviolet Absorption of Proteins](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/protein-absorption/): Proteins, such as those in animal tissue and plants, strongly absorb ultraviolet (UV) light at approximately 280 nm. - [What Is a Raman Microspectrometer?](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/raman-microspectrometer/): The Raman microspectrometer is a scientific instrument used to measure the Raman spectra of microscopic samples. - [Microscope Objective Classes](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/what-are-microscope-objective-classes/): Microscope objectives can be quite complex devices using either lenses or mirrors to collect and focus light. - [What Is a Microspectrophotometer?](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/what-is-a-microspectrophotometer/): A microspectrophotometer is a cutting-edge scientific instrument designed to measure the spectra of microscopic samples. - [What Is a Spectrophotometer?](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/what-is-a-spectrophotometer/): A spectrophotometer is a device measures the intensity of electromagnetic energy at each wavelength of light in a specified region. - [What Is the Function of a Spectrophotometer?](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/what-is-the-function-of-a-spectrophotometer/): Spectrophotometry is a scientific technique used to measure the intensity of light either transmitted through or reflected from gas, liquid or solid samples.