Imaging provides surface spatial information. This could be morphological as in the case of scanning probe microscopy or chemical as in the case of Raman microscopy.
Instrumentation:
Optical Microscopy
Scanning Electron Microscopy
Transmission Electron Microscopy
Scanning Probe Microscopy
Infrared Spectroscopy
Raman Spectroscopy
Miscellaneous
Instruments by function
Instruments by technique