1. A method for the spectral analysis of samples in a graphite tube, comprising the steps of: (a) inserting a liquid sample into a graphite tube having an interior; (b) drying said sample by heating said graphite tube; (c) transferring said sample into a particle cloud by further heating up said graphite tube thereby generating optical signals or providing optical signals influencing conditions in said particle cloud; and (d) measuring one of said optical signals influenced or generated by said sample in said particle cloud with a detector; wherein (e) image sequences of images of said interior of said graphite tube are recorded with a two-dimensional camera having a plurality of image elements over selected periods of time for spectral analysis; (f) said images of said image sequences are automatically processed with image processing methods, (g) a reference image of said interior of said graphite tube is determined; and (h) the condition of said graphite tube, of said sample and/or of a dosing means for the inserting said sample into said graphite tube is determined by comparison of said images of said image sequences to said reference image.