Microlucida®
Create 2D and 3D whole-slide images on your brightfield or fluorescence microscopeProduct Overview
Microlucida gives you the power to capture 2D and 3D whole slide images at your brightfield or fluorescence microscope. It allows you to easily generate high quality whole slide images and image stacks. It also enables you to use a single high-quality image acquisition application across all of your microscopes, a feature particularly beneficial for core facilities.
Key Benefits
- Capture high resolution whole slide images for your research
- Microlucida can save large amounts of disk space with its high-quality JPEG 2000 compression of images and stacks
- Supports microscopes from Zeiss, Olympus, Nikon, and Leica, Microlucida is custom-designed for seamless integration with the world's leading motorized stages and cameras
- Use your existing microscope to scan slides at high power in 2D or 3D, using air, oil or water immersion objective lenses.
Microlucida is designed to operate on a wide variety of microscopes and hardware commonly used in laboratories. This versatility allows customization of your research system to fit your exact needs and budget. It's simple-to-use user interface also allows a new user to begin capturing high magnification whole slide images easy within minutes.
We work closely with you to choose the best hardware for each new system, ensuring optimal performance to help you achieve your research goals within your budget. We sell all necessary hardware equipment, or you might be able to use your own microscope equipment, since our software can integrate with most existing microscopes.
| Minimum System Requirements | |
| Operating System | Windows 10, 64-bit |
| Processor | 4-core |
| CPU RAM | 16 GB |
| GPU RAM | >6 GB |
| Recommended System Requirements | |
| Operating System | Windows 11, 64-bit |
| Processor | 8-core |
| CPU RAM | 64 GB |
| GPU RAM | >8 GB |
| Storage | Solid state drive(s) |
| File Input Options | |
| Supported image file formats | CZI, HDF5, H5, IMS, JP2, JPG, JPEG, JPF, MJC, JPX, LIF, LSM, ND2, OIB, OIF, TIF, TIFF, SVS |
| Output Specifications | |
| Data output formats | XML*, ASC, DAT |
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| * Our XML data file format, the Neuromorphological File Specification (NFS), is endorsed as a standard by the INCF. |
| Image file output formats | JP2, JPX, TIFF, SVG |
| Movie export format | MP4 |
| Hardware Compatibility | ||
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Computer controlled microscopes | Leica supported microscopes:
| Zeiss supported microscopes:
Nikon supported microscopes:
Olympus BX and IX Series:
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| Manual microscopes | Most models after 2002 of Zeiss, Olympus, Nikon, Leica | |
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Structured illumination |
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| Filter wheels and shutters | Zeiss, Olympus, Leica, Nikon, LEP, Prior, Sutter | |
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Color video cameras |
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Monochrome video cameras |
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| Light sources |
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Hardware options
| Digital Cameras | We sell the digital cameras from world leading manufacturers of scientific grade. We help you choose the model that is most effective for your use–from real-time color cameras for brightfield microscopy to state-of-the-art cooled, high sensitivity cameras for dim fluorescence microscopy. We can also configure systems with dual cameras to optimally support the widest range of specimens – from brightfield microscopy through structured illumination fluorescence microscopy. |
| Motorized Stages | Microlucida is most productive and efficient with a three-axis motor driven microscope stage that we can provide. The software automatically maintains the registration of the graphics overlay with the microscope image when the stage is moved, allowing for integration of multiple fields of view. This feature ensures the fastest and most accurate data acquisition from objects larger than a single field of view. |
| Specialized Microscope Hardware: motorized external filter wheels, shutters and illumination devices | When working with multi-channel fluorescence microscopy, we automate many of the functions of a microscope to dramatically reduce the amount of work that you need to do, such as changing fluorescence filters and opening and closing the shutter. We can add automatic, motorized devices to most existing manual microscopes. |
Supported Image File Formats: PDF
Microluicda® Version 2024.1.3
Released November 2024
Licensing Update
Update to offline software licensing. Microlucida software requires reactivation on systems that do not have access to the internet. Instructions for offline software activation are included in the Microlucida user guide.
View Full Version History Here.
Cited in Peer Reviewed Scientific Publications
MBF’s software utility is underscored by the number of references it receives in the worlds most important scientific publications.
Ament, S. A., M. Cortes-Gutierrez, et al.
A single-cell genomic atlas for maturation of the human cerebellum during early childhoodView Publication
Timonidis, N., M. Rubio-Teves, et al.
Analyzing Thalamocortical Tract-Tracing Experiments in a Common Reference SpaceView Publication
Jeon, K.-I., A. Kumar, et al.
Blocking Mitochondrial Pyruvate Transport Alters Corneal Myofibroblast Phenotype: A New Target for Treating FibrosisView Publication
Tetsushi, N., F. Satoshi, et al.
Microglia are dispensable for developmental dendrite pruning of mitral cells in miceView Publication
Qin, Y., X.-Y. Zhang, et al.
Downregulation of mGluR1-mediated signaling underlying autistic-like core symptoms in Shank1 P1812L-knock-in miceView Publication
Nevue, A. A., B. M. Zemel, et al.
Cell type specializations of the vocal-motor cortex in songbirdsView Publication
Hernandez-Reynoso, A. G., B. S. Sturgill, et al.
The effect of a Mn(III)tetrakis(4-benzoic acid) porphyrin (MnTBAP) coating on the chronic recording performance of planar silicon intracortical microelectrode arraysView Publication
Beers, D., D. Goniotaki, et al.
Barcodes distinguishing morphology of neuronal tauopathyView Publication
Gergues, M. M., K. J. Han, et al.
“Circuit and molecular architecture of a ventral hippocampal network.”View Publication
Who Is Using Microlucida?
Microlucida is used across the globe by the most prestigious laboratories.
Testimonials
"I rarely have encountered a company so committed to support and troubleshooting as MBF."
"MBF Bioscience is extremely responsive to the needs of scientists and is genuinely interested in helping all of us in science do the best job we can."
"I am so happy to be a customer of your company. I always get great help related with your product or not. With the experienced members, you are the best team I've ever met. All of your staff are very kind and helpful. Thank you for your great help and support all the time."
"We’ve been very happy for many years with MBF products and the course of upgrades and improvements. Your service department is outstanding. I have gotten great help from the staff with the software and hardware."
"Our experience with the MBF equipment and especially the MBF people has been outstanding. I cannot speak any higher about their professionalism and attention for our needs."
"MBF provides excellent technical support and helps you to find the best technical tools for your research challenges on morphometry."
Robust Professional Support
Our service sets us apart, with a team that includes Ph.D. neuroscientists, experts in microscopy, stereology, neuron reconstruction, and image processing. We’ve also developed a host of additional support services, including:
- Forums
We have over 25 active forums where open discussions take place.
>> Learn More - On-Site/Training
We’ve conducted over 750 remote software installations.
>> Learn More - Webinars
We’ve created over 55 webinars that demonstrate our products & their uses.
>> Learn More
Request an Expert Demonstration
We offer a free expert demonstration of Microlucida. During your demonstration you’ll also have the opportunity to talk to us about your hardware, software, or experimental design questions with our team of Ph.D. neuroscientists and experts in microscopy, neuron tracing, and image processing.
