The Powell lens is a quantum leap forward in line generator performance over the simple cylinder lens. A cylinder lens produces a poorly illuminated line, one limited by the non-uniform, Gaussian laser beam. The Powell lens' rounded roof is in fact a complex two-dimensional aspheric curve that generates a tremendous amount of spherical aberration that redistributes the light along the line; decreasing the light in the central area while increasing the light level at the line's ends. The result is a very uniformly illuminated line used in all manner of machine vision applications; from bio-medical and automobile assembly to chocolate chip cookie production.