Microchannel plates (MCPs) are incorporated in a wide variety of x-ray imaging and detection devices. Experimental measurements are presented in this paper which are used to determine the MCP and phosphor configuration for optimizing spatial resolution, temporal resolution, and gain in an x-ray framing camera. We investigate with the use of pulsed electron accelerating voltages to attain extraction fields higher than those possible at safe DC levels. In addition, MCPs with exit faces coated with an insulating material, in order to increase the maximum safe DC electron extraction field, were also tested
