The application of silver paint on specimen mounts to form berms is helpful in localizing pollen for examination with scanning electron microscopy. This is especially useful with rectangular boats because pollen located on the boundaries is out of the field of view when examined at high magnifications. Silver berms are not an impediment to photography and pollen grains lying on them are often better grounded, thus enhancing the final image. Distracting silver backgrounds can be “painted out” of the prints if desired. Berms can also be used effectively on circular specimen mounts, particularly when small quantities of rare pollen or even an isolated fossil pollen grain needs to be centered for high resolution study.