A thermal imaging cameramonitors the temperature different zones in apharmaceutical process such as ribbon compaction,coating, spray drying, fluid bed drying,high shear wet granulation, crystallization,lyophilization, precipitation, fermentation, andlow dosage dispensing of a pharmaceuticallyactive liquid. The thermal imaging camera canbe used to produce a visual display of atemperature profile, or a spray pattern. In addition,feedback from the thermal imaging camera isused to control one or more processing parameters.