We compare the properties of sub-wavelength imaging in the visible wavelength range for metal–dielectric multilayers operating in the canalization and the resonant tunnelling regimes. The analysis is based on the transfer matrix method and time domain simulations. We show that point spread functions for the first two resonances in the canalization regime are approximately Gaussian in shape. Material losses suppress transmission for higher resonances, regularize the PSF but do not compromise the resolution. In the resonant tunnelling regime, the MTF may dramatically vary in their phase dependence. Resulting PSF may have a sub-wavelength thickness and may be broad with multiple maxima and a rapid phase modulation. We show that the width of PSF may be reduced by further propagation in free space, and we provide arguments to explain this surprising observation.