1. A method for preparing an image simulating the anatomy of a small subject test animal comprising the use of non-tomographic imaging modalities, said non-tomographic imaging modalities including, but not limited to one or more x-ray sources and resultant of x-ray projections, photographic cameras and resulting digital or optical images and surface scanners and resultant surface scans, said process comprising: placing the subject animal in or on a carrier, the carrier being in an imaging enclosure or inserting the animal and carrier into an image enclosure, such that the location of the test animal on said carrier in the imaging enclosure is a focal point for each of the non-tomographic imaging modalities, obtaining a surface scan of the subject test animal, or a combination of one or more of an x-ray projection and a photographic image, or a combination of one or more of an x-ray projection, a photographic or digital image and a surface scan of the subject animal to provide a simulation combination, and co-registering the simulation with a previously generated digital atlas of the anatomy of the same or similar test animals.