Fluorescent lamps are rarely used in machine vision. However, they are sometimes used in factory lighting for manual workstations or large machine stations. In image processing, however, they should always be operated on electronic ballasts to avoid brightness flicker in the image.

Another application where neon tubes are still used today is colour measurement with D55 or D65 standard tubes.

Fluorescent lamps are commonly referred to as "neon" or fluorescent lamps. The fluorescent lamp is based on the principle of a low pressure gas discharge lamp. A noble gas (neon/argon) together with some mercury vapour is ionised by an ignition voltage. This makes the mixture electrically conductive and produces a high-energy low-pressure plasma.

The ability to produce light is based on electron transitions within the atomic structures of the gas mixture. Exiting electrons move from higher to lower energy levels, emitting mainly ultraviolet light. Because of the very discrete atomic transitions, narrow-band emission spectra are typical of gas discharge lamps.

To produce visible daylight, the inside of the tube is coated with fluorescent substances (=luminescent material).

These coatings absorb the unwanted UV light and emit different colours depending on the gas filling of the tube and the coating. The tubes are commercially available in different shades of white (e.g. warm white, neutral white, daylight white, etc.). LEDs are much more practical.