Change image display panel (3D)

Purpose

Use the Change image display panel to specify how you want to view images.

  • You can display both 2D and 3D images.
  • You can display 3D images as a 3D Volume or as an Image Slice, which displays a cross-section. The options available in the panel are different, depending on how you choose to display the image.
  • Image-display settings made using these controls are "sticky"; they will be applied to any images viewed in the 3D Visualization window during the current session. The settings do not persist when you close and re-open Stereo Investigator software.

To view the Change image display panel

When you open the 3D Visualization window, the Image panel will be active.

Open the panel at any time by clicking the Image button in the 3D Visualization window.

3D Volume display options

These options are available when 3D Volume is selected in the Display Image as section of the panel.

Image stack settings

  • Show surface as (drop-down menu)

    • Min projection: Recommended when the image foreground is brighter than the structures (e.g., brightfield images).

    • Max projection: Recommended when the image background is darker than the structures (e.g., fluorescence & confocal images).

    • Alpha composite: Adds 3D depth and more detail.

      If you perform any image adjustment on a projection (max/min projection, or deep focus), you'll need to toggle the projection off and then back on in order to refresh the projection image.

  • Partial projection (check box): Check the box to display a subset of the data in X, Y or Z. This can be helpful in visually dense and/or complicated images.

    • Use the slider on the left to navigate the portion of the image to display (click the image to view a short demonstration).

    • The Center position and Thickness of the partial projection display you specify using the slider is reported in the Image stack settings portion of the window.

  • Clip tracing (check box): When partial projection is active, you can check the box to Clip tracing so that the display of traced structures and/or markers is clipped to match the portion of the image being displayed.

  • Visual Density: Move the slider to control the image-data density that is displayed. Slide left to display the image at lower resolution and maximize software response. Slide right to increase the image-display resolution.
  • Simple

    Click the Simple radio button and adjust the transparency using the slider. Simple transparency is applied evenly to the image.

    Intensity Based

    Click the Intensity Based radio button and the Map button to specify transparency settings for dark, midrange, and bright intensity values in the image.

    Click Done to apply the settings or Cancel to exit without applying the settings.

Image Slice display options

These options are available when Image Slice is selected in the Display Image as section of the panel.

3D slice scroll panel

The 3D slice scroll panel opens when you display images as an Image Slice in the 3D Visualization window.

  • Check/uncheck XY, XZ or YZ to display/hide slices (planes).
  • To move along an axis, drag the slider for that axis OR click a slider and use the PageUp/PageDown keys to move one plane at a time (click to view a short demonstration).

Image Slice Settings

  • Clip Tracing on Slices Click to hide the display of tracings on all slices (planes) apart from the one selected.

  • Click a radio button to select a slice (see previous bullet).

Image Display Transparency

  • Drag the slider to display the image with even transparency across intensities (simple transparency).

Slice Borders

  • Show Border Check/uncheck to toggle display of a box around the image slices
  • Use the Line Color color picker to select a color for the slice borders.
  • Adjust the Thickness slider to set the line weight for the slice borders.

Options available in both views

Bounding Box

  • Show Bounding Box: Check/uncheck to toggle display of a box around the image.

  • Use the Line Color color picker to select a color for the bounding box.

  • Drag the Thickness slider to change the weight of the lines that make up the bounding box.

Undo Changes button: Click to discard the image display settings.

Adjust Image Data button: Click to open/close the Image Adjustment panel that includes options for image-data adjustment.