This paper shows ion channeling images of the strain field produced by precipitate particles in a crystal matrix. Images have been produced by mapping the energy of 3 MeV protons transmitted through a thinned silicon crystal containing colonies of copper silicide particles, with the incident beam at or close to planar channeling directions of the lattice. Features of the precipitate contrast observed as a function of beam tilt angle away from channeling alignment are qualitatively explained using a model based on symmetrical plane rotation of the crystal lattice around the colonies. ©1996 American Institute of Physics.