Export tracing as image

Purpose

Export your tracing/reconstruction data as a raster image (.tiff, .jpeg, or .png) to share with others and/or to save your data in a format that can be edited with image-editing software, such as Adobe Photoshop or Windows Paint.

To export to the OBJ format for use in Blender or MATLAB, use Save 3D model in the 3D window button bar of Neurolucida or Neurolucida 360.

Procedure

Current version

  1. Open the data file with the tracing/reconstruction data that you want to export as a raster image (.tiff, .jpeg, or .png).

    Use the navigation tools on the View menu

  2. Click the Image button from the Publish ribbon,

    or you can go to File > Export and choose Export Tracing as Image.

  3. In the Export Tracing window, adjust options for the export:

    • Resolution: Displays the resolution of the image that will be exported.

    • Magnification: Type in the text box or use the up and down arrows to adjust the magnification which will in turn adjust the resolution. As the magnification changes, the export resolution display will dynamically update.

    • Scaling (µm/pixel): Type in the text box to adjust the scaling for the exported image.

    • Background color: Click the color picker box to change the background color for the exported image.

    • Monochrome: Check the box to export the image in monochrome only.

      If you are exporting an image with a scale bar, make sure to set the scale bar colors to anything but black or white to ensure they remain visible in the exported image.

  4. Specify a name, file type, and location for the file, and click Save.

    The default file format is JPEG (.jpg), however, you can select TIFF (.tif) or PNG (.png) from the Save as type drop-down menu.

  • Resolution: Change the image resolution.
  • Background: Click the color button to change the background color.
  • Monochrome: Select this option to save the image with a white background.

The default value is the current magnification for the tracings on the screen.

Fit: Automatically calculates an X and Y resolution based on the scaling value (microns/pixel) you specify. If you don't check Current view only, the image file contains the entire data file.

By default, the image file generated corresponds to what you see on the screen. But if the resolution you specify is very high, the image file is generated based on a larger field of view than what you see on the screen.

The tracings are usually exported in grayscale. If the background color is white, however, the color of the tracings is black.

Examples

  1. Check Center on current view.
  2. In Use scaling, replace the current value with its half (e.g., if the current value is 0.008, replace it with 0.004).
  3. Click Fit.
  4. Click To File to export your tracing.
  1. Use the Background color picker to set your background color to white.
  2. Check Monochrome.
  3. Click To File to export your tracing.

 

The program makes automatic adjustments to ensure that the export conforms to the resolution specified. If the resolution specified is higher than your data file's resolution, pixels of the specified background color are added; if the resolution is lower, cropping occurs around the center of your data file or current view.