In cell biology, visual techniques such as light and electron microscopy provide the most direct means to study structure and function; however, no single microscopy technique is capable of providing all of the desired information. As a consequence, many separate techniques have evolved, each with different ranges of resolution and each with unique capabilities. The most informative approaches are global in the sense that they take advantage of multiple imaging modalities spanning a range of spatial scales and frequencies, preferably encompassing preservation of the hydrated nature of the cell.