The separation of protein extractions in two dimensions gained increasing importance with proteomics projects. Following isoelectric focusing, proteins are separated according to their molecular weight in an SDS page gel. This technique guarantees unmatched resolution and is the prerequisite for the analysis of proteoms. In recent years, fluorescent stainings such as Sypro Ruby and Ruthenium II improved the detection of spots. These dyes show the same sensitivity as silver but provide a better dynamic range for quantification and optimized conditions for further processing e.g. in MALDI Toff.