Adjusting camera (& multichannel) settings for slide scanning

Now that the regions of interest are traced, you need to adjust the camera settings (as well as the multichannel settings if you are using fluorescence).

 

  1. Open the Camera Settings window if it's not already open.
  2. Perform a white balance to correct for any coloring imbalances.
    • Find an area on the tissue or slide that should be white in color (e.g., slide background or small hole in the tissue).
    • In the camera settings window, click the white balance icon then click in an area on the live image that doesn't contain any tissue. This should result in a more appropriately colored image.
  3. Adjust the camera settings: for best results, set the exposure between 10 and 100 milliseconds.

    If the image is too dim, adjust the light level on the microscope until it looks acceptable.

  4. Verify that the camera settings are appropriate with the camera histogram:

    The histogram displays a graphical representation of the brightness and contrast of the current live image.

    • Adjust the camera settings until a very broad histogram is achieved. The gray area should reach broadly to the edges of the graph, but should not be cut off.
    • Use the R, G, and B buttons to view individual colors within the histogram.
  1. The multichannel control panel displays the channels configured earlier.

    Optional : Click the Setup button to review the channel's settings.

    1. Check the Remember Video Settings box.
    2. Click device command sequence for the first channel; adjust the exposure in the camera settings until a full balanced histogram is achieved.
    3. Repeat step b for the other channels.

      The program has "memorized" the camera settings for each channel and is ready to apply them for acquisition.

  2. Select Acquire>Enable multichannel.
    1. The program performs the acquisition tasks defined for the first channel.
    2. You are prompted to adjust the camera settings. Click OK.
    3. The program performs the acquisition tasks for the other channels defined.
  3. Close the shutter to prevent the tissue from bleaching while setting up the acquisition.
  4. Verify that the appropriate device command sequence presets have been set up.
    1. In the multichannel control panel, click Setup.
    2. In the Multichannel Setup panel, click the Presets icon. You should see the name of your automated set of tasks.