Tracing contours (2D)

See also Tracing and editing contours (3D), Automatic contour tracing, and Selecting and editing contours (2D).

Before you start

• Bring a specimen into view, make sure that a reference point has been placed.
• Enable AutoMove if you plan to trace contours that are larger than the field of view.

Closed vs. open contours

• Use closed contours to obtain measurements of the area within the contour or to specify regions of interest for automatic cell detection.
• Open contours can be used as delineations or reference lines to indicate layers in a reconstruction; this may be useful for measuring structures with Neurolucida Explorer software.

Procedure Notes

At any time during contour tracing, you can:

• Adjust the thickness of the contour by scrolling the mouse wheel.
• Press Ctrl-Z to erase the last drawn points one by one back to the beginning of the contour.

• Focus with the joystick or the Page Up | Page Down keys on your keyboard.
  

• End a contour by right-clicking and choosing End Open Contour or Close Contour.

Procedure

1. Select a contour name from the Contour drop-down menu or from the Contour Selection panel.
   1. To change the name and/or color of a contour, from the Trace ribbon bar, click the cog icon to open Contour preferences.

   2. Click the name and type a new name. Double-click the color picker and select the color you want.

2. Select a tracing method by right-clicking in the tracing window. The method chosen is strictly a matter of preference and can be changed at any time during the tracing by right-clicking and selecting a different method.
3. Trace the contour of choice: Click to place points along the boundaries of a region of interest; when you're done, right-click and select close contour or end open contour.