Information is collected from a region of interest using a scanning probe
microscope having a tip by moving the tip along at least one predefined
path extending from a center location to a peripheral location in the
region of interest and collecting information using the tip at a
plurality of sample points along the at least one predefined path. The
predefined path may be based on a radial line defined between the center
location and the peripheral location, and may follow a zig-zag,
sinusoidal, constant-curve, rectangular trajectory generally tracking the
radial line.