One of the factors that influences the overall fit of a Cerec restoration is the thickness of the optical powder. The objective of this study was to compare the measurement of the fit of glass inlays produced with the Cerec instrument after each preparation had been coated, in separate trials, with imaging powder applied with an aerosol; imaging powder applied with air from a dental unit; and a water-soluble paint applied with a brush. Ten inlay preparations were made in extracted teeth. Each preparation was coated with one of the three imaging media and an inlay was made. This was repeated until each preparation received each imaging surface. Each inlay was measured at eight different points by using an image analysis system interfaced to a stereoscopic measuring microscope. The inlays fabricated on the two powder surfaces were not significantly different, but the painted surfaces were found to result in a significantly better-fitting inlay