ID19 is mainly devoted to 3D imaging (microtomography, laminography), with an intensive use of phase contrast. These techniques are applied to a wide variety of topics, with a present emphasis on materials research, biomedical applications and palaeontology. This beamline is moving towards higher spatial and temporal resolutions in two as well as three dimensions. Recent developments available now for the users programme are radioscopy with MHz frame rates up to single-bunch imaging mode for dynamic and shock experiments.

X-ray imaging started over a century ago, at the same time as the discovery of X-rays. For several decades its only form was radiography. Other imaging techniques were developed in the last decades: X-ray diffraction topography to characterize crystals for the microelectronics industry, medical scanners for a "three dimensional" view of the inner part of human body. The modern synchrotron radiation sources completely renewed X-ray imaging. They allowed exploiting new possibilities (very high spatial, angular or time resolution imaging), and also led to the emergence of original techniques, like "phase contrast" imaging associated with the "coherence" of the beam. ID19 is a multi-purpose long (145 m) imaging beamline for radiography (absorption and phase contrast imaging) and microtomography experiments.