X-ray diffraction imaging applies an array of parallel capillaries in front of a position sensitive detector. Conventional micro channel plates of a few millimetre thickness have successfully been used as collimator arrays but require short sample to detector distances to achieve high spatial resolution. Furthermore, their limited absorption restricts their applications to low energy X-rays of around 10 keV. Progress in the fabrication of long polycapillaries allows an increase in the sample to detector distance without decreasing resolution and the use of high X-ray energies enables bulk investigations in transmission geometry.