To capture the color that other image sensors miss, Foveon X3 direct image sensors use three layers

of pixel sensors embedded in silicon. The layers are positioned to take advantage of the fact that silicon absorbs different wavelengths of light to different depths, so one layer records red, another layer records green, and the other layer records blue. This means that for every pixel location on Foveon X3 direct image sensors, there s actually a stack of three pixel sensors, forming the first and only direct image sensors.

!ntil now, all other image sensors have featured "ust one layer of pixel sensors, with "ust one pixel sensor per pixel location. To capture color, pixel sensors are organi#ed in a grid, or mosaic, resembling a three$color checkerboard. %ach pixel is covered with a filter and records "ust one color&red, green, or blue. That approach has inherent drawbacks, no matter how many pixels a mosaic$based image sensor might contain. 'ince mosaic$based image sensors capture only one$ third of the color, complex processing is re(uired to interpolate the color they miss. )nterpolation leads to color artifacts and a loss of image detail. *lur filters are used to reduce color artifacts, but at the expense of sharpness and resolution. +ith its revolutionary process for capturing light, Foveon X3 technology never needs to compromise on (uality, so you get sharper pictures, truer colors, and fewer artifacts. ,nd cameras e(uipped with Foveon X3 technology do not have to rely on processing power to fill in missing colors, reducing hardware re(uirements, simplifying designs and minimi#ing lag time between one shot and the next. -ollar for dollar, pixel for pixel, nothing compares to Foveon X3 technology.