[rcktscientist]

Here are some alternative ideas:
1. Boro artists do stringer stacks then pull down to murrine cane. Finally, wet saw some slices and encase for clean, fine resolution images under clear. I'd wager it is possible with soft glass too maybe a little more work but possible! (coe90 stringer stacks inside an opened up glaskolben, then melt-in using rollers is what I thought would work)

2. Leave a flat spot on the bead for the image, print/cut a small image to fit, then use clear two-part epoxy to attach and cover. That would give the highest resolution image since it depends on the printed image and from my experience, the epoxy is very clear if done right.