The technique of using digital images to measure the development of plants is now well established, and documented in recent literature, e.g. (Rajendran et al., 2009; Golzarian et al., 2011; Neilson et al., 2015). Some parameters, such as leaf angle, leaf length and leaf colour, can be derived from a single image but for more complex information, multiple images are required.

As a minimum, the Scanalyzer makes three images each time a plant is processed. Plants are turned automatically through 90° to provide two perpendicular side view images which are combined with a third image from above. 

From each single view one leaf area value is derived. These values may then be used to measure effective photosynthetic leaf area, plant volume for biomass estimations and leaf rolling dynamics.