Use Laser for Acquires (confocal microscope)

Use this command to acquire images with a confocal microscope instead of a camera (the term "laser" is routinely used in the software to refer to the confocal microscope).

The instructions below are for Zen users. For Fluoview users, see Enable Laser Acquires (confocal microscope).

If your microscope is NOT confocal, use Acquire>Capture>Use external instead.

Procedure

  1. Configure your system:
    • In the File>Hardware setup>Stage panel: Select the appropriate Zen stage.
    • In the File>Hardware setup>>Camera panel:
      • Select Simulation from the Camera Type drop-down.
      • Check the Add option to get from laser box.
    • In the File>Hardware setup>Confocal>Microscope panel: Select Zen and check the box under Cameras not controlled by confocal program.
  2. Live image mode is on.
  3. Click Acquire>Capture>Use laser for acquires to enable acquisition via the Zen microscope.
  4. Click Acquire>Workflows>SRS Image Series Workflow or Acquire>Workflows>SRS Image Stack Series.
    • The workflow will prompt you to confirm that you want to use the "laser" (confocal microscope) to acquire.
    • A progress message specific to confocal microscopes is displayed during the Image Stack Acquire step.
  5. Use the Image Organizer to view the acquired images.

To speed up the process, acquire the images in the native format used for the transfer (.lsm for Zen). Use the File>Preferences>Images>Save section; check the Confocal format when possible.

Both the Zen software and Stereo Investigator are open. While you launch the acquisition process from Stereo Investigator, you control the acquisition settings in Zen. When you use the SRS Image Series workflow or the SRS Image Stack workflow,you are prompted to use the Zen interface in addition to the Stereo Investigator interface.