USAF 1951 Resolution Test Target — Chrome on Glass, 0.25 to 912.30 lp/mm, MIL-STD-150A Compliant

Price range: $154.11 through $3,619.17

  • MIL-STD-150A compliant — three-bar patterns from Group 0 Element 1 up to Group 9 Element 6 (912.30 lp/mm), with extended Group −2 (down to 0.25 lp/mm) on 3″ targets.
  • Industry-leading 0.55 µm line width — our Group 9 Element 6 targets resolve to 912.30 lp/mm (0.55 µm line width). Most manufacturers stop at Group 9 Element 1 (512 lp/mm, ~1 µm line width). Custom orders down to 0.1 µm for semiconductor wafer calibration.
  • Quartz Glass (Fused Silica) substrate — every target on premium fused silica for superior thermal stability, UV transmission, and flatness. Chrome coating ≥ OD3.
  • Two coating options — Brown Chrome across the full range, or Blue Chrome for standard 512 lp/mm targets (enhanced contrast under reflected light).
  • Positive & Negative versions for both bright-field/transmission and dark-field/reflection applications.
  • 3 standard sizes — 1″ (25×25 mm), 2″ (50×50 mm), 3″ (76×76 mm with extended Group −2 patterns) — all 2.3 mm thick. Optional NIM-traceable metrology-institute calibration available (additional fee).

USAF Series - Naming System Guide

Breaking Down: CV-USAF-1-P-(0-9, 1)-BRC
calibvision usaf1951 formula
Model Material Coating Over size Polarity Thickness Group Range Max. lp/mm
CV-USAF-1-P-(0-9, 1)-BRC Quartz Glass Brown Chrome 25x25mm/ 1" Positive 2.3mm Group 0 Element 1 to Group 9 Element 1 512
CV-USAF-1-N-(0-9, 1)-BRC Quartz Glass Brown Chrome 25x25mm/ 1" Negative 2.3mm Group 0 Element 1 to Group 9 Element 1 512
CV-USAF-2-P-(0-9, 1)-BRC Quartz Glass Brown Chrome 50x50mm/ 2" Positive 2.3mm Group 0 Element 1 to Group 9 Element 1 512
CV-USAF-2-N-(0-9, 1)-BRC Quartz Glass Brown Chrome 50x50mm/ 2" Negative 2.3mm Group 0 Element 1 to Group 9 Element 1 512
CV-USAF-3-P-(0-9, 1)-BRC Quartz Glass Brown Chrome 76x76mm/ 3" Positive 2.3mm Group 0 Element 1 to Group 9 Element 1 512
CV-USAF-3-N-(0-9, 1)-BRC Quartz Glass Brown Chrome 76x76mm/ 3" Negative 2.3mm Group 0 Element 1 to Group 9 Element 1 512
CV-USAF-1-P-(0-9, 6)-BRC Quartz Glass Brown Chrome 25x25mm/ 1" Positive 2.3mm Group 0 Element 1 to Group 9 Element 6 912
CV-USAF-1-N-(0-9, 6)-BRC Quartz Glass Brown Chrome 25x25mm/ 1" Negative 2.3mm Group 0 Element 1 to Group 9 Element 6 912
CV-USAF-2-P-(0-9, 6)-BRC Quartz Glass Brown Chrome 50x50mm/ 2" Positive 2.3mm Group 0 Element 1 to Group 9 Element 6 912
CV-USAF-2-N-(0-9, 6)-BRC Quartz Glass Brown Chrome 50x50mm/ 2" Negative 2.3mm Group 0 Element 1 to Group 9 Element 6 912
CV-USAF-3-P-(0-9, 6)-BRC Quartz Glass Brown Chrome 76x76mm/ 3" Positive 2.3mm Group 0 Element 1 to Group 9 Element 6 912
CV-USAF-3-N-(0-9, 6)-BRC Quartz Glass Brown Chrome 76x76mm/ 3" Negative 2.3mm Group 0 Element 1 to Group 9 Element 6 912
CV-USAF-3-P-(-2-9, 1)-BRC Quartz Glass Brown Chrome 76x76mm/ 3" Positive 2.3mm Group -2 Element 1 to Group 9 Element 1 512
CV-USAF-3-N-(-2-9, 1)-BRC Quartz Glass Brown Chrome 76x76mm/ 3" Negative 2.3mm Group -2 Element 1 to Group 9 Element 1 512
CV-USAF-3-P-(-2-9, 6)-BRC Quartz Glass Brown Chrome 76x76mm/ 3" Positive 2.3mm Group -2 Element 1 to Group 9 Element 6 912
CV-USAF-3-N-(-2-9, 6)-BRC Quartz Glass Brown Chrome 76x76mm/ 3" Negative 2.3mm Group -2 Element 1 to Group 9 Element 6 912

Product Overview

The USAF 1951 resolution test target is a standardized optical chart defined by U.S. Air Force MIL-STD-150A (1951) for measuring the limiting resolution of imaging systems. It contains three-bar patterns arranged in 12 groups (−2 to 9), each with 6 elements. Resolution in line pairs per millimeter (lp/mm) is calculated by 2 (Group + (Element − 1) / 6), ranging from 0.25 lp/mm at Group −2 Element 1 to 912.30 lp/mm at Group 9 Element 6.

calibvision usaf 1951 group 4

Specifications

Parameter Value Line (SG + BRC, Element 1) Premium Line (QG + BLC, Element 6)
Resolution Range up to 512 lp/mm up to 912.30 lp/mm
Substrate Material Soda Lime Glass Quartz Glass (Fused Silica)
Coating Brown Chrome Blue Chrome (Anti-glare)
Thickness (1") 1.6 mm 1.6 mm
Thickness (2"/3") 2.3 mm 2.3 mm
Thickness Tolerance ±0.1 mm ±0.1 mm
Dimensional Tolerance ±0.5 mm ±0.5 mm
Line Width Tolerance ±50 nm ±20 nm
Surface Flatness ±3 μm ±1 μm
Coating Optical Density ≥ OD3 ≥ OD3
Coating Thickness 100 nm 120 nm
Surface Finish (Scratch-Dig) 60/40 40/20
Surface Reflectance (Visible) < 5% < 2%
UV Transmission (200–400 nm) Limited Good (>90%)
Thermal Expansion (×10⁻⁶/°C) 9 0.55
Working Temperature −20 to +80°C −60 to +250°C
Standard Compliance MIL-STD-150A MIL-STD-150A
Calibration Option NIM-traceable third-party (extra fee) NIM-traceable third-party (extra fee)

Resolution Data Table — Line Pairs per Millimeter (lp/mm)

Industry reference table for converting USAF 1951 (Group, Element) coordinates to resolution in line pairs per millimeter. Calculated by the standard formula: lp/mm = 2^(Group + (Element − 1) / 6).

Element \ Group −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1 0.25 0.5 1 2 4 8 16 32 64 128 256 512
2 0.281 0.561 1.12 2.24 4.49 8.98 17.96 35.9 71.8 143.7 287.4 574.7
3 0.315 0.63 1.26 2.52 5.04 10.08 20.16 40.3 80.6 161.3 322.5 645.1
4 0.354 0.707 1.41 2.83 5.66 11.31 22.63 45.3 90.5 181 362 724.1
5 0.397 0.794 1.59 3.17 6.35 12.7 25.4 50.8 101.6 203.2 406.4 812.7
6 0.445 0.891 1.78 3.56 7.13 14.25 28.51 57 114 228.1 456.1 912.3

Line Width Data Table — Bar Width in Micrometers (μm)

Industry reference table for the physical width of each bar in a USAF 1951 three-bar pattern. Calculated as: Line Width (μm) = 1000 / (2 × lp/mm).
Element \ Group −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1 2000 1000 500 250 125 62.5 31.25 15.63 7.81 3.91 1.95 0.98
2 1781.8 890.9 445.45 222.72 111.36 55.68 27.84 13.92 6.96 3.48 1.74 0.87
3 1587.4 793.7 396.85 198.43 99.21 49.61 24.8 12.4 6.2 3.1 1.55 0.78
4 1414.21 707.11 353.55 176.78 88.39 44.19 22.1 11.05 5.52 2.76 1.38 0.69
5 1259.92 629.96 314.98 157.49 78.75 39.37 19.69 9.84 4.92 2.46 1.23 0.62
6 1122.46 561.23 280.62 140.31 70.15 35.08 17.54 8.77 4.38 2.19 1.1 0.55

Resolution Selector — Group / Element Reference Table (MIL-STD-150A)

Use this table to pick the resolution range your application needs. Find your use case, read across to the lp/mm, then choose the matching SKU.
Group Element 1 (lp/mm) Element 6 (lp/mm) Use Case
−2 0.25 0.45 Ultra-wide-field optics, telephoto lenses
−1 0.5 0.89 Low-frequency testing of standard lenses
0 1 1.78 Entry-level resolution checks
1 2 3.56 General industrial lenses
2 4 7.13 Consumer camera lenses
3 8 14.25 High-end camera lenses
4 16 28.51 Microscope objectives (low magnification)
5 32 57.02 Microscope objectives (medium magnification)
6 64 114.04 Microscope objectives (high magnification)
7 128 228.07 Microscope objectives (oil immersion)
8 256 456.14 Semiconductor inspection, ultra-high resolution
9 512 912.3 Diffraction-limit resolution, AR/VR micro-lenses

Quick guide:

Minimum Line / Space Width

See the Difference: 1 µm vs 0.55 µm Resolution

Standard targets stop at ~1 µm. CalibVision high-resolution targets resolve down to 0.55 µm — and custom to 0.1 µm.

Standard

usaf 1951 group 9 element 1 512 lpmm 1micron calibvision

Group 9 Element 1

512 lp/mm (1.0 µm line width)

High-Resolution

usaf 1951 group 9 element 6 912 lpmm 055micron calibvision

Group 9 Element 6

912.30 lp/mm (0.55 µm line width)

Note: Custom patterns available down to 0.1 µm for semiconductor wafer calibration.

Material & Coating Options

Positive vs Negative

Property Positive Pattern Negative Pattern
calibvision usaf 1951 detail positive calibvision usaf1951 detail negative
Pattern (dark) Chrome (opaque) Clear (substrate)
Background (light) Clear (substrate) Chrome (opaque)
Best For Transmission mode with bright field illumination Transmission mode with dark field illumination
Microscope Use Standard brightfield microscopy Phase contrast / DIC microscopy
Camera Lens MTF Most common choice Specialty applications
Reflective Setup Pattern appears dark on bright ceramic Pattern appears bright on dark chrome

Blue Chrome vs Brown Chrome Coating on Quartz Glass Target

Both Blue Chrome and Brown Chrome are chromium-based coatings deposited on the same Quartz Glass substrate. They differ mainly in reflectance across the visible spectrum, which affects how the target behaves under different illumination.
Brown Chrome is the default coating for Calibvision USAF 1951 targets — it offers high contrast, excellent edge sharpness, and reliable performance for the vast majority of resolution-testing applications.

Blue Chrome features a flatter, lower reflectance (anti-glare) across 400–700 nm, making it useful for high-contrast SFR / MTF setups or reflected-light measurements where glare must be minimized.

Property Blue Chrome (BLC) Brown Chrome (BRC)
calibvision usaf1951 blue chrome calibvision usaf1951 brown chrome
Coating Color Dark blue-gray Dark brown
Background (light) Clear (substrate) Chrome (opaque)
Best For Transmission mode with bright field illumination Transmission mode with dark field illumination
Microscope Use Standard brightfield microscopy Phase contrast / DIC microscopy
Camera Lens MTF Most common choice Specialty applications
Reflective Setup Pattern appears dark on bright ceramic Pattern appears bright on dark chrome

Calibvision USAF 1951 targets ship with Brown Chrome by default. If your application requires Blue Chrome, please contact us — we’ll prepare it to your specification.

Why Choose Calibvision USAF 1951 Targets

0.55 µm line width (912.30 lp/mm)

Industry-leading standard resolution, with custom down to 0.1 µm

Fused silica flatness and UV transmission as standard, not an upgrade
Pick by your imaging setup, not your budget
Verified group/element scaling, including extended Group −2 on 3″ targets
High-contrast bars for clean edge
Sub-micron patterns for wafer calibration
Optional third-party metrology-institute certification (additional fee)
with serial-numbered inspection report
calibvision usaf1951 backlight

Applications

Microscope Objective Lens

Validation, fluorescence microscope calibration

Machine Vision Systems

Line-scan and area-scan resolution qualification

Endoscope & Medical Optics

Resolution verification for small-diameter imaging systems

Semiconductor Wafer Metrology

custom 0.1 µm patterns for sub-micron calibration

Astronomy & Remote Sensing

Telescope and satellite payload qualification

AR/VR Optics

Waveguide and microdisplay resolution measurement

Academic & Research Labs

Undergraduate optics teaching (Value), photonics research

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the USAF 1951 resolution test target?
The USAF 1951 resolution test target is an optical chart developed by the United States Air Force in 1951 (MIL-STD-150A) for measuring imaging system resolution. It contains three-bar patterns in groups (−2 to 9) and elements (1 to 6), with resolution calculated by 2^(Group + (Element − 1) / 6), covering 0.25 to 912.30 lp/mm.
Use the formula lp/mm = 2^(Group + (Element − 1) / 6). For Group 4 Element 3: 2^(4 + 2/6) = 2^4.333 = 20.16 lp/mm. The smallest resolvable element on your camera or microscope defines the system’s limiting resolution.

A Positive target has chrome (opaque) patterns on a clear (transmissive) substrate — bars appear dark against bright background in transmission. A Negative target has clear patterns cut into a chrome background — bars appear bright against a dark background. Choose Positive for standard brightfield microscopy and lens MTF testing; choose Negative for darkfield, phase contrast, DIC microscopy, or collimator alignment.

The standard MIL-STD-150A pattern reaches Group 9 Element 6, which corresponds to 912.30 lp/mm — a line width of about 0.55 µm. Calibvision offers this as a standard high-resolution option. For finer requirements, custom patterns down to 0.1 µm line width are available for semiconductor wafer calibration.
Group 9 Element 6 is 912.30 lp/mm, which equals a line (and space) width of approximately 0.55 µm. The line width is calculated as 1000 / (2 × lp/mm) = 1000 / 1824.6 ≈ 0.548 µm.
Both have identical resolution, MIL-STD-150A geometry, and the same price. Brown Chrome is optimized for transmission/bright-field imaging; Blue Chrome offers enhanced contrast under reflected light/dark-field thanks to its anti-reflective property. Choose based on your illumination setup.
Quartz glass (fused silica) offers superior flatness, deep-UV transmission (from ~185 nm), low thermal expansion, and high chemical durability. Calibvision uses fused silica on every target — flatness and UV transmission come standard, not as a paid upgrade.
Yes. We manufacture custom patterns with line widths down to 0.1 µm on quartz glass, suitable for semiconductor wafer metrology and sub-micron calibration. Contact us with your group/element range and substrate requirements.
Three standard sizes: 1″ (25×25 mm), 2″ (50×50 mm), and 3″ (76×76 mm). All are 2.3 mm thick on quartz glass. The 3″ size adds extended Group −2 patterns (down to 0.25 lp/mm) for low-frequency testing.
Yes, optional. Every target ships with a standard serial-numbered inspection report. For formal traceability, NIM-traceable third-party metrology-institute calibration is available for an additional fee.
The MIL-STD-150A specification, which defines the group/element three-bar pattern geometry and logarithmic resolution scaling from 0.25 lp/mm up to 912.30 lp/mm.
Resolution (lp/mm) = 2^(Group + (Element−1)/6). For example, Group 9 Element 6 = 2^(9 + 5/6) = 2^9.833 = 912.30 lp/mm. Line width (µm) = 1000 / (2 × lp/mm).

The first number is the Group range — the chart covers Groups 0 through 9. The second number is the maximum Element included at the highest group: 1 means the chart stops at Group 9 Element 1 (~512 lp/mm), while 6 extends to Group 9 Element 6 (~912.30 lp/mm). Choose the “6” variant for high-resolution optics (microscope objectives ≥40×, semiconductor inspection, AR/VR).

The 3″ (76×76 mm) targets have physical room to include Groups −2 and −1 (0.25 to 0.89 lp/mm) in addition to standard Group 0–9. This is essential for wide-field optical systems, large-format lenses, telescope objectives, and short working distances. A single 3″ chart covers 0.25 to 912.30 lp/mm — a 3,650× resolution range.

Stored flat in the supplied optical case, away from UV (for Soda Lime variants), at 20–25°C and 30–50% RH, Quartz Glass targets remain accurate for 10+ years with no measurable drift. Soda Lime Glass targets last 5–10 years. Recalibration is recommended every 3 years for ISO 17025 accredited labs; for general production, every 5 years or when chrome shows visible scratches.

Yes — Calibvision offers custom USAF 1951 targets with custom Group/Element ranges, custom substrate sizes (up to 200×200 mm), custom shapes (round, multi-pattern arrays), special coatings, and combined targets (USAF + checkerboard + crosshair). Submit through the Custom Quote form for a 24-hour quote.

Featured Snippet Optimized

Q1. What is the ISO 12233 standard?
ISO 12233 is the international standard published by the International Organization for Standardization that specifies methods for measuring the resolution and spatial frequency response (SFR) of electronic still-picture cameras. The latest editions are ISO 12233:2017 and ISO 12233:2024.
The Standard chart conforms to ISO 12233:2000 with hyperbolic wedges measuring 100–2000 LW/PH. The Enhanced (Pro) version adds a star sector target, 5° slant bar, OECF patches, and color patches, and extends resolution measurement to 4000 LW/PH — suitable for high-megapixel sensors and full ISO 12233:2017 analysis.
Choose transmissive film when you use a backlit light box for high contrast and uniform illumination — this is the standard lab setup. Choose matte photographic paper for ambient or reflective lighting, large-format charts above 1.2 meters, and field installations where backlighting is impractical.
Match the magnification to your camera’s pixel count. The chart should cover at least 80% of the frame at your normal working distance. A 24 MP camera typically uses the 1X (200×356 mm) chart; a 100 MP medium-format sensor needs 3X (600×1068 mm) or larger.
SFR (Spatial Frequency Response) is a numerical measurement of how contrast changes across spatial frequencies in a camera system. ISO 12233 defines two SFR methods: edge-based SFR (e-SFR) using slanted edges, and sine-based SFR (s-SFR) using Siemens star patterns.
Calibvision film ISO 12233 charts are manufactured with ±15 μm feature accuracy, verified by a CNAS-accredited third-party calibration lab. Photographic paper versions hold ±0.1 mm accuracy. Every unit ships with a serial-numbered dimensional inspection report.
Technically yes, but consumer printers cannot reliably achieve the sub-millimeter line accuracy and contrast uniformity required by the standard. Self-printed charts typically introduce 0.5–2 mm errors that invalidate SFR measurements above 1000 LW/PH. Professional charts use photolithography or laser-drawn film.
ISO 12233 charts are compatible with Imatest, sfrmat5 (free MATLAB tool by Peter Burns), QuickMTF, MTF Mapper, and most camera test suites including the DxOMark methodology. Calibvision charts work with all major SFR analysis tools.
LW/PH stands for “Line Widths per Picture Height” — the unit ISO 12233 uses to express resolution. One line pair equals two line widths. A reading of 2000 LW/PH means the camera can resolve 1000 distinct line pairs across the vertical height of the image.
Film and photographic paper charts are stable for 3–5 years if stored flat, away from UV light, at 20–25°C and 30–50% RH. Recalibration is recommended every 2 years for ISO 17025 lab environments, or whenever the chart shows visible scratches, fading, or warping.
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    usaf 1951 resolution test target — chrome on glass, 0.25 to 912.30 lp/mm, mil std 150a compliant

    USAF 1951 Resolution Test Target — Chrome on Glass, 0.25 to 912.30 lp/mm, MIL-STD-150A Compliant