When quality and precision are of the highest priorities, manufacturers should consider utilizing investment casting photomicrographic analysis. This testing and evaluation process is used to identify an array of casting characteristics, including defects, micro-cleanliness, and grain size, as well as perform evaluations, approvals and validation. Photomicrographic analysis is an extremely effective tool that uses highly magnified images of the surface of castings. The magnification is so great that it can reveal features as minute as one micron in some cases.