1. A method of resolving high and low light intensities into informational contrast comprising: a) controlling illumination of an optically dense sample by passing specific wavelengths of light to each pixel of an imager; b) identifying and quantifying the sensitivity of the pixels comprising the imager; c) characterizing a filter spectral response function; d) accessing raw pixel data; e) plotting neighboring pixels as a function of wavelength; f) acquiring one or more images; and g) correcting each pixel identified and quantified in step (b); wherein said plotting generates approximations of the spectral response function and said steps result in extracting informational contrast from said light intensities.