Left: For a sample that exhibits thick ice near the edges of holes and ice in the center of holes that is thin enough for a single layer of particles to reside, single particle micrographs would optimally be collected a distance, d, away from the edges of holes. Middle: A sample that exhibits a high degree of preferred orientation may require tilted single particle collection by intentionally tilting the stage by a set of angles, α, in order to recover a more isotropic set of particle projections (). Right: For a sample that consists of multiple layers of particles across holes, the sample owner may decide to proceed with collection with the knowledge that the efficiency will be limited by the particle saturation in each layer and that the resolution will be limited by the decrease in signal due to the ice thickness, t, and the accuracy of CTF estimation and correction. The results of cryoET on a given single particle cryoEM grid might also result in the sample owner deciding that the entire grid is not worth collecting on, potentially due to the situations described here or due to observed particle degradation. Due to depiction limitations, the single orientation of the particle in the middle column is depicted as being only in one direction, when in practice the particles may rotate on the planes of the air-water interfaces.