LUCIA Forensic Version 5.

30

User’s Guide

Laboratory Imaging
Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted except with the written
permission of Laboratory Imaging, Ltd.

Information within this manual is subject to change without notice. Changes, tech-
nical inaccuracies and typographical errors will be corrected in subsequent editions
of this manual.

Revision: 1.1, December 5, 2006

List of Contents:

LUCIA Installation 2
LUCIA Screen 8
Layout Manager 12
Organizer 15
Cameras 21
LUCIA Document Structure 23
Comparisons 26
Measurement 31
Histogram and Look Up Tables 33
Binary Editor 37
Mathematical Morphology Basics 41
Modifying Main Toolbar 46
Command Line Options 48
Key Shortcuts 50

1
LUCIA Installation

Quick Start

Insert the installation CD in the CD-ROM drive.

Install LUCIA along with camera drivers and the appropriate additional modules.
Plug in your HASP key into the USB port of your PC.
Run LUCIA

The CD-ROM Content

The CD-ROM contains the LUCIA software itself, Windows system drivers for all supported
cameras, drivers and utilities for HASP, documentation, and sample image sequences.

The installation process

Note that you have to possess the administrator rights to your computer to be able to install
LUCIA successfully. When the installation CD is inserted the setup runs automatically.
The welcome dialog box appears. Click Next to continue.

2
Step 1

Define the folder where the LUCIA software should be installed. We recommend to use the
predefined directory. If you want to change the directory, press the Browse button and select
a directory of your choice, otherwise click Next .

3
Step 2

Now select the cameras you want to use with LUCIA.

4
Step 3

If your licence contains some additional modules besides the LUCIA base software, please select
them in this window.

Note:
Any module selected will be installed along with LUCIA automatically. However, you might not be
licensed to use it. The module will run after you get a corresponding code registered in your HASP
key.

5
Step 4

The Setup creates the LUCIA program group with the following items: HASP key information,
LUCIA shortcut, Modify Installation (for adding hardware drivers, modules, etc.), and the Uninstall
procedure. A shortcut is created on the desktop. These changes affect all user profiles of your
local Windows system.

Note:
Clicking the Uninstall command deletes all installed files from disk, and removes the LUCIA
program group from Windows Start menu as well as the desktop icon.

6
Additional Module/Camera Installation
You may need to install a camera driver or additional module after the LUCIA main system
installation.

Go to Start menu>Programs>LUCIA program group.

Select the Modify Installation command.
Follow the install shield instructions.Check the checkboxes by the items you would like to
add.
Finish the installation.

The software Copy Protection

The LUCIA software is delivered with a HASP hardware key.

The HASP key contains information about the SW licence and allows users to run the
corresponding software. Please connect the USB HASP after LUCIA installation. The utility called
"HASPinfo" (Help menu) is installed to the LUCIA directory. It enables the user to view
information about the actual software licence.

7
LUCIA Screen

The following items appear on the screen:

The menu bar containing pop-up menus with sets of commands.

Various tool bars (Left, Right, Comparison, Controls, Processing/Live Activity, Zoom)
Docked control windows - see more description of docking windows in the Layout
Manager chapter.
The status bar displaying useful information.

8
Left tool bar

Magnifier Glass interactive magnifier tool to examine image details.

Measurement - tool for interactive measurements.

Show Live Image turns the camera live signal ON/OFF.

Focus Mode displays the live image in reduced resolution with high frame rate.

Auto White Balance performs the automatic AWB image correction.

Enable Averaging shortcut.

Enable Sharpening on Live shortcut.

Enable Mono Emulation shortcut.

Acquire Image shortcut.

Open file shortcut.

Save file shortcut.

Print Image shortcut.

Copy Image shortcut.

Paste As New Image shortcut.

Undo button.

Redo button.

Crop Image shortcut.

Rotate Right shortcut.

Rotate Left shortcut.

Vertical tool bar

Evidence to Reference shortcut.

Full Evidence shortcut.

9
 Full Test shortcut.

Preview shortcut.

Vertical comparison shortcut.

Horizontal comparison shortcut.

Transparency comparison shortcut.

Interlaced comparison shortcut.

Pseudo Red&Green comparison shortcut.

Difference comparison shortcut.

Chopper comparison shortcut.

Minimum comparison shortcut.

Maximum comparison shortcut.

Accept Image shortcut.

Reset Values shortcut.

Right tool bar

Probe shortcut.

Light Settings shortcut.

Objectives shortcut.

LUTs shortcut.

Insert Text tool for inserting annotations.

Insert Arrow tool for inserting annotations.

Insert Scale tool for inserting annotations.

Calibrate Document shortcut.

Look Up Tables ON/OFF shortcut.

10
Controls tool bar

Camera Settings window shortcut.

Light Settings window shortcut.

Objectives window shortcut.

LUTs window shortcut.

Histogram window shortcut.

Panning Window window shortcut.

Image Manager window shortcut.

IPI window shortcut.

Recognize ICAO window shortcut.

Docucenter Expert window shortcut.

Status bar
The status bar at the bottom shows the following information (from left to right): Camera frame
rate, exposure time, focus indication (the higher number the better), coordinates of mouse
position and the corresponding pixel values, image type, image bit depth, image size in pixels.

11
Layout Manager

There can be a number of control windows (Camera Settings, Measurement, Histogram, LUTs,
etc.) displayed within the application window in several different ways, floating., docked inside a
docking pane, in tab or caption style..

To display a docking pane

Docking panes are empty square spaces inside the application window, where you can place
("dock") the control windows. They can help to keep the screen "tidy". There is one docking pane
available on each side (Top, Right, Bottom, Left).

Go to the View>Docking Panes submenu and select the pane you would like to display.
The docking pane appears, either empty or with some window(s) docked.
Repeat this task to display more panes.

The same submenu can be also displayed by right-clicking into the empty application screen.

To hide a docking pane

Either click the arrows in the top left corner, or double click (or Ctrl + click) the empty pane (not
the docked control window). The pane minimizes to a stripe by the edge of the application. It can
be recalled to its original size by double clicking it.

If you would like to close the pane completely, minimize it and press the cross button, or you can
right click the pane and unselect the Docking View option.

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To shrink/expand docking panes
Having more docking panes opened, a situation
where there is not enough room for the control
windows can occur. In that case, the Shrink and
Expand commands shall be used.

Right click the pane you would like to

shrink/expand.
A context menu appears.
Select the Expand/Shrink command.

The commands Shrink/Expand Top, Right, Bottom,

Left are available. When one of the panes shrinks,
the neighbouring pane expands to the emptied corner and vice-versa.

Control windows
The following control windows can be displayed within the application screen. They can be
floating, or docked inside the horizontal or vertical docking panes:

Camera Settings
Histogram
Image Manager
Light Settings
LUTs
Measurement
Objectives
Panning Window

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To display a control window

Go to the View>Controls
submenu and select the desired
control window.
The control window appears
floating on the screen.
To dock (and undock) it, double click its caption.

It is also possible to display a control window docked. Right click inside a docking pane and select
the one of your choice. If the window is already opened somewhere (e.g. in the opposite pane or
floating), it closes and moves to the new destination.

To close a control window

Click the "cross" button on the right side of the active window caption.
If the window is docked, you can also right click its caption and uncheck the appropriate
window.
The control window closes.

Tab or caption style?

More control windows can be docked in the same place while only the front one is being visible.
There are two styles of displaying these windows, Tab and Caption.

Tab Style

Besides the current control window,

the other window tabs are visible.
Switching the windows is a one click
operation.

Caption Style

All docked windows except the

current one are hidden.
The switching and undocking of
windows is done via the menu that
appears when you click the arrow
button.

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Organizer

Apart from the main application mode used for capturing and image analysis, LUCIA provides a
special Organizer mode.
Organizer was designed to ease the work with image files and
databases. Clicking the Organizer button located in the upper
right corner of the LUCIA application window or pressing F10
activates Organizer.
The screen is primarily divided into two identical panes. Each
pane can be switched into two modes: the Files mode and the
Database mode. To switch from one pane to the other one use
"Next Pane" command from the View menu. To copy files from
one pane to the other one simply drag selected images to the
other pane.

This button switches the pane to show a directory tree and images from the selected
folder (and its subfolders, when selected - see below). It is called the Files view .
This button switches the pane to show the database structure and lists images from
the currently selected database table. This is called the Database view .

Features available in the Files view

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 This button toggles the display of the directory tree. You can switch it off to get additional
space to display images.
In this combo box it is possible to set the file type to be displayed.
You can select only a particular extension or show all files.
If this check-box is selected all images from the included subfolders are shown.

Features available in the Database view

This button toggles display of the database navigation and detailed information about the
selected image. You can switch it off to get additional space to display images.

This combo-box displays the active connection point or enables to

select another defined connection point.

This combo-box selects the database table and also indicates the current table.

Image filter
Both views (File and Database) have an option to use filters . It enables you to display only
such images, that match the criteria given.

This button activates the filter.

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 Pressing this button invokes the filter setup dialog box.

The filter can be used in two modes:

Basic mode
This mode enables you to view files that match one defined condition.

Advanced mode
This mode enables you to define two conditions with a relationship defined between them. Either
select OR to display files with the properties matching at least one given condition, or select
AND to display files the properties of which match both conditions at once.
First, select the field, where LUCIA should search for a given expression. When using a filter in
the Files view, there are fields from file properties listed. In the Database view, the listbox shows
the names of fields from the currently selected database table.
If a selected field is of a numerical type (e.g. Size, Calibration, File date etc.) you can specify,
whether you want to find the exact value or a value in a given range (both displayed in the
picture above). This is selected by the Condition type radio button.

Anywhere - If a given sequence of characters is found anywhere in the sequence of

characters in the field, the system will evaluate it as a match. E.g. you have entered set
to the values edit box. The filter will select records with field values: set , re set ,
set tings, pre set ed...
Exact - If the given sequence of characters exactly equals to the content of the field, it is
evaluated as a match. E.g. if set is entered, fields containing the set value will only
match.

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 Start - If the entered string is found at the beginning of a field, it is displayed by filter.
E.g if set is entered, fields containing set , set ing set up are selected.
All letter strings - It is possible to search for more expressions. These should be entered
separated by commas. If you want to enter an expression with a space, insert it into quotes.
If this option is selected, only records in whose fields all of those expressions (anywhere)
appear are selected.
Any letter string - This option is for entering multiple expressions as above, but this time
every field with an occurrence of at least one from the given expressions is matched.

Operations with images

To open an image from the Files view, double click it. LUCIA will display it in the main mode.
To select multiple images, either click on the first and the last image holding the Shift key
(continuous group selection) or click individual image names with the Ctrl key down to select
more files that do not appear together.
You can copy one or more selected images from one folder to another only by dragging and
dropping. This can be used to ease inserting of images to the database too. Simply drag the
image from a folder and drop it onto the pane, where the database table is opened. To delete
selected images press the Delete key.
All those operations and some other can be invoked also from the context menu, which appears
each time you right click on the image thumbnail:

Thumbnail displaying options

You can adjust the way images are shown in the panes. The menu can be invoked in the main
bar, where you can select the size of displayed image thumbnails. Selecting the Details with
preview will display only one image per row with additional information about the image (image
properties, if the images are in folder or database fields, when viewing database records.)

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There is a possibility to rotate images which have wrong orientation. It doesn't affect just the
display, but changes the underlying image data too.

Rotates image (or more selected images) left.

Rotates image (or more selected images) right.

Sorting of images
To adjust the order of displayed images, right click anywhere in the pane. A context menu will
appear. Move to the Sort by command - the submenu with several possible selectable criteria
will appear. If the sorting is already active, the icon is displayed on the left side of the selected
sorting criteria (images are sorted by their filenames).

Grouping of images
To better arrange the view of images one can use the grouping of images. Drag the column name
bar to the grouping bar (right above the column name bars). All files with matching field values of
that column will be grouped together. This can be undone by dragging the column caption back.
See the example Files View picture above (the Dimensions column is grouped).

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Adjusting the look of Organizer
The pane size is adjustable. To resize it move the mouse cursor to the dividing in the middle. The
cursor becomes an arrow with two tips. Press the mouse button and move it to the new position.

Resizes the panes to achieve the same size of both of them.

Resizes the pane to its maximal/minimal size (one pane is then displayed on the whole
screen).

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Cameras

This chapter is dedicated particularly to users running the active version of LUCIA - equiped with
a camera. Let's assume the camera works properly, is connected to the system with proper
system drivers installed and running (if required by camera).

Selecting the driver

You will be asked to select the camera driver everytime you launch LUCIA. You can change the
driver later, using the Select Driver command from the Camera menu. Choose the driver that
matches your camera:

Selecting the camera

Color cameras can be used in a monochromatic mode. The actual camera type (color/mono) can
be selected in the Camera menu by choosing the Select Camera command. Confirm the choice
with OK .

Setting up the camera

Exposure time, camera resolution, and other camera-specific features are adjustable from the
Camera Settings window. To invoke it, use the Camera Settings command from the
Camera menu. A dialog window appears.

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Live formats
A format is a set of attributes of a video signal e.g.: resolution, bit depth, frame rate etc. Live
signal is a stream of image data, coming to your computer from the camera in real time. LUCIA
provides two different modes: Fast (Focus) and Quality , each serving a different purpose.
The format of both modes can be set in the Camera Settings dialog box.
This button displays the live camera signal. It produces pictures in high resolution, but the
frame-rate is low. This mode sets the gain as low as possible and extends the exposure time.

This tool bar button runs the Fast (Foc) live mode. It is optimized to give as many frames
per second as possible in low resolution. This mode increases gain and uses short exposure
times.

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LUCIA Document Structure

Image Layers
Each LUCIA document can consist of the following image layers, serving different purposes:
Annotation layer -
In this layer, graphical
objects and texts can be
stored in a vector
format. The results of
interactive and
automatic object
measurements, arbitrary
text notes and other
annotations are stored
there.
Binary layer - Pixels
in this layer can be
found in two states only
(i.e. Black/White). A
binary image is usually
result of thresholding. It
is used mainly for
performing automatic
measurements of the
thresholded objects.
Color layer -
Contains image data.
When you open an
image from disk, it is
loaded to this layer. It can handle images with the depth of up to 16 bits per color component.
The dimensions of this layer determine the view of the other layers.

When saving an image, only the JPEG2000 file format can handle all image layers and is capable
of saving them. The other image formats will save the content of the color layer only.

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Using the Annotation Layer
It is possible to insert text notes, and some shapes to the annotation layer. All the objects can be
modified later. See the following example:

Invoke the Insert Arrow command (Edit>Insert Objects).

It enables you to insert one of the following vector objects accompanied by a text.
Arrow
Cross marker
Ellipse
Rectangle
Select the shape, define its properties using the Properties button and decide, whether to
attach a text to each object or not. Then you are free to start placing the selected object to
the image.
Finish the action by closing the Insert Objects dialog window.

Apply the same workflow when inserting text notes or a scale via the Edit > Insert Text and
Edit > Insert Scale commands.
All annotations are placed in one image layer. This layer can be displayed/hidden by clicking
the Annotation layer button or by pressing the A key. All annotations may be deleted by
invoking the Clear Annotations (W) command from the context menu that appears
when you right click the button.

Saving annotations
The annotation layer can be saved to the JPEG2000 file format when you select the Save
Annotations checkbox in the Save As dialog window. Other image formats are not capable of
storing the layer so you are just allowed to select whether to Burn Annotations straight to
image data or not.

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Using the Binary Layer
The Binary Layer (Binary Mask) can be created by thresholding the current image or drawn
directly using the Binary Editor . There is only one Binary Mask for all opened documents and
has various aims of usage. A comparison Region Of Interest can be created via the Compare >
Region of Interest > Binary Mask -> ROI Mask command, or contours of the binary image may be
used as a comparison method:

Threshold the Evidence image.

Use the Binary > Contour command.
Display the Test image.
Perform the comparison.

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Comparisons

Comparison types
The Evidence and Test images can be compared using several different comparison modes. When
comparing, the position and rotation angle of the image that is active for processing can be
adjusted using the actions shortcut keys . Check the following list:

Preview comparison
The Evidence and Test images are displayed next to each other. All shift and rotation
transformations are ignored. The images cannot be moved.

Vertical comparison
The screeen gets divided into halves. The left half contains the Evidence image, the Test image is
on the right side.

The virtual splitting line is placed in the middle of the screen by default. It can be moved by
mouse or by clicking the arrow buttons on the comparisons tool bar. Double click the line to reset
its position.

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Horizontal comparison
Equals the vertical comparison, but the splitting line is horizontal.

Transparency comparison
This command switches to a transparency comparison mode. The Test image is overlapped by the
transparent Evidence image. The transparency level may be set in the comparison options
dialog window.

Use the "Ctrl+Up" and "Ctrl+Down" keys of the Comparison tool bar to increase and decrease
image transparency. Mouse wheel may also be used.

Interlaced comparison
This command activates an interlaced comparison mode. Each image is displayed as a horizontal
grating so that 1 pixel lines of the two images alternate each other.

Pseudo Red Green comparison

This mode works the following way:

The pixel values of the two images are subtracted.

Pixels the difference of which exceeds the defined tolerance are displayed as red and green
depending on whether the subtraction result is positive or negative.
The tolerance can be defined in the comparison options (Red Green Tolerance).

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 Use the "Ctrl+Up" and "Ctrl+Down" keys of the Comparison tool bar to increase and decrease the
tolerance. Mouse wheel may also be used.

Difference comparison
It creates a negative of one of the images and displays it transparently.

Chopper comparison
The two images are alternated. The frequency of the alterations can be set in the comparison
options or increased/decreased by mouse wheel.

Minimum comparison
The two images are compared and only the pixels with lower values are displayed.

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Maximum comparison
The two images are compared and only the pixels with greater values are displayed.

ROI - Region Of Interest

The area of comparisons can be restricted to an arbitraty area - ROI. There are two types of ROI:

Rectangle ROI
Mask ROI

The default resizable rectangular mode can be used, or any shape of ROI can be created from the
current Binary Mask (the Mask ROI mode is not available unless the ROI Mask is created). Click
the Use Compare ROI button of the Comparison tool bar to activate the current ROI. The
nearby button can Show/Hide ROI Border .

Comparing two documents/items using a camera

Put the first document to the camera view.

Press the "Full Test" button of the Comparison tool bar to activate the Test position.
Press the Live button to get the camera signal and adjust the document.
Capture the image (Camera > Capture or "-")
Put the second document to the camera view. Press the "Full Evidence" button of the
Comparison tool bar.
Press the Live button to get the camera signal and adjust the second document.
Select a comparison mode and start the comparison.

Comparing images stored on a disk

Press the "Full Test" button of the Comparison tool bar. Open the first image by invoking the

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 Open command (File>Open).
Press the "Full Evidence" button from the Comparison tool bar. Open the second image by
invoking the Open command.
Start comparing by selecting any of the comparison modes.

Adjusting the images

Please, refer to the Tips and Key Shortcuts chapter to see the possibilities of moving the
images.
If you want to store the comparison result to a hard disc, invoke the Save As command
(Image>Save As). The actual scene will be saved to a hard disc.

Switching the Processing/Live Activity

Any operation applied while comparing two images is applied to the one image, which the activity
is set to. There are the following buttons in the top-right corner of the application screen:
This button swaps the preference of the live camera signal between the Evidence and
the Test image positions. The currently preferred window is higlighted on the button
(left/red for Evidence, right/blue for Test). Whenever the Live image is turned on, it
appears in the preferred widnow.

This button swaps the preference of processings and adjustments performed on the
Evidence and the Test images. The currently preferred window is higlighted on the
button (left/red for Evidence, right/blue for Test). Whenever some processing or e.g.
rotation is performed, it affects the preferred window.

There are also menu commands corresponding to the buttons described above: Compare >
Switch Live Activity (F5) , Compare > Switch Processing Activity (F8)

Comparison results
When you are finished with comparing and would like to save the scene to a file, just invoke the
File > Save As command. Or, you can click the Accept Displayed Image button of the
comparison tool bar and the whole scene will be copied to the first free Reference space of the
Image Manager .

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Measurement

Measurement is an advanced and complex image analysis technique. It starts with calibration of
the LUCIA system which is followed by a quantitative evaluation of the image. Image analysis is
finalized with data examination and presentation.

Calibration
Calibration is of a crucial importance for the measurement. It assigns real sizes to objects, so
they can be compared to each other. A correct calibration has to be made before the
measurement begins.

Rough Measurement
Quick and approximate measurements can be performed with the graticules. They behave
like adjustable floating rulers. The user can simply align it with the measured object and
read the distance (e.g. the diameter). To activate a graticule, press the Graticules button
placed in the upper-right corner of the document window. The type of the graticule ruler is
indicated by a picture on this button. The types are: Rectangular, Circle, Cross, Simple Cross,
Vertical Ruler, and Horizontal Ruler.
To change the graticule type, click on the graticules button with the
right mouse button and select the appropriate item from the context
menu. The command Move Graticules to Center aligns the center of the
ruler with the current center of screen. The last command - Graticules
properties - displays the following dialog box:

In this dialog box all parameters

(shape, color, line width, density of
lines) can be adjusted. The density
value - the closest distance between
two line intersections of the graticule -
can be set in pixels (in case of
uncalibrated image) or in selected
units. The density can be also adjusted
automatically according to the current
zoom factor.

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Interactive measurement
The interactive measurement procedure means that the user measures directly on the screen and
gets precise outcome in selected units. The measurement is performed by drawing e.g. two
parallel lines, aligned with borders of the measured object. This is the way of defining the
boundaries of the object in the image. The real size of the object is then counted using calibration
constant.
The interactive measurement can be performed on both color and binary images. First, select the
feature you want to measure. You can choose from: Taxonomy, Counts, Length, Semiaxes, Area,
Angle or Profile. The selection is done by picking one of those commands from the Measurement
menu. For example, to measure the distance between two objects in the image, select the Length
command and the following dialog box appears:

The buttons in the upper part of the window represent different measuring tools. Detailed info
about any of measuring tool can be found in the Command Reference section of the help. The
following example illustrates how to measure the size of a crystal:
Select the interactive tool Horizontal parallel lines. Place the
first line to its position by clicking into the image. Hold the
left mouse button during positioning, after you release it,
the line is positioned. Repeat it for the second line. When
finished, an arrow is drawn between those lines, joined by
the value of the measurement. A record with the
measurement type and measured value is added to the
table in the Length dialog box (pictured above).

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Histogram and Look Up Tables

Histogram Window
Histogram is a graphic representation of number of pixels (Y axis) in the image versus their pixel
values (X axis). The pixel values run from 0 displayed as black to 255 - 65535 (depending on the
image bit depth) displayed as white. In case of grayscale images a vertical bar is plotted for each
pixel value showing the number of pixels in the image with that value. Considering color images,
such graph is displayed for every color component.

The picture above shows a standalone histogram window. When this window is docked, it shows
only the most significant information to spare space.

Histogram controls

This button switches the histogram view to a mode with three separate graphs, one
for each color component.
This button switches the histogram view to a mode where all colors and intensity
curves are displayed in one graph(see the picture).

Normally, the histogram shows data of the original image. If the LUTs button is activated, the
histogram displays data as if LUTs were applied.

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LUTs
A look-up table represents a useful tool for color modifications. It takes a value, maps it to a
location in a table, and replaces the incoming value with the contents of the table entry.

LUTs on RGB images

The main part of LUTs window is occupied by a histogram view. There are 3 separate curves for
each RGB component, and one gray filled curve for the whole image. You can adjust the
histogram view by moving the slider on the left part of the window.
The black and white triangular sliders define threshold. All the pixels with values lower than the
black slider indicates (left of the slider) will be displayed as pure black. Everything to the right of
the white slider (all pixels with higher values) will be displayed as white. The remaining color
shades will be composed of the pixels with values between the two sliders with defineable gamma
parameter. Gamma is adjustable by moving the gray slider.

This button extends the sliders and displays the histogram as if LUTs was applied. The
range of pixel values currently displayed becomes indicated in the top right corner.

Three color bars with sliders (displayed underneath the histogram) are representing RGB
components. The slider movement affects the brightness of each component.

Auto scale
The auto scale mode automatically sets the white slider and gamma parameters to get the
best image view (what is "best" is determined by a universal algorithm, that may differ
from your needs). If you select the Use Black Level parameter from the pop-up menu,
the black slider will be affected too.
It is possible to apply the Auto scale procedure only once by pressing the button, or to run
it permamently (on the live image) by clicking the Keep Auto Scale button. When you

34
 turn the Keep Auto Scale off, the settings remain as if the Auto Scale button was pressed once.
If you want to discard all LUTs settings, press the red cross button, located next to the Auto
scale button.

Settings
Press the arrow next to the Auto Scale button, a pop-up menu will appear. Invoke the Settings
command.

Quantile (0-10%) - this value determines how many of all pixels of the picture are left
outside the sliders when LUT is applied.
Tolerance (0-10%) - if the threshold decreases within the set Tolerance, LUT remains
unchanged and is not re-counted. When the change exceeds the Tolerance, LUT is recounted.
This reduces number of LUT calculations when the camera produces picture noise.

AWB
AWB (Auto White Balance) mode adjusts the image to get the color neutral white. Similarly as
above, it can be used once, or permanently on the live image by clicking into the Keep Auto
White Balance checkbox left of the AWB button. When you uncheck the box, the settings
remains as if the AWB button was pressed once.
If you know which undertone your white has, you can select this color by the color picker that
appears after pressing the ... button on the right of the AWB button. And again, all changes are
discarded using the red cross button.

Press this button to apply the LUTs settings to the color image data. Until you press this
button, no changes are made to the image data.

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LUTs on Monochromatic images

All things mentioned above are also valid for monochromatic images. When adjusting a
monochromatic image, you don't have AWB function available and the whole image is controled
using only one bar with sliders. On the other hand, you can set more modes of displaying,
including colorizing the image using predefined color schemes.

This pop-up menu is used for pickng the mode of mapping. You can select from Contrast or
Window modes. When Contrast is selected, all pixels with values higher than the white
slider will be set to white. But when Window is active all pixels with value higher than the
white slider will be set back to black.

This button indicates the selected color table and displays this pop-up menu. There you can select
the color scheme, in which you want to display your image. Try a few of them to see which
highlights most of the details you want to see.

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Binary Editor

The binary layer, as a result of thresholding, can be modified by hand using the binary layer
editor. It is a built-in application providing various drawing tools and morphology commands. Go
for the Binary Editor command in the Binary menu or press the Tab key. New controls
appear on main application toolbars:

Controls (horizontal tool bar)

Reverses the changes made to the binary image. <U>

Clears the binary image (fills the entire image with the "background" color). <R>

Loads the image previously saved by the Save button. <L>

Temporarily saves the current binary image. It can be loaded anytime before the binary
editor is closed by the Load button. <S>
Displays this help page.

Stores the changes and quits the editor. <ESC> or <TAB>

The other buttons of the vertical tool bar are simplified versions of mathematical
morphology functions. Please see the Mathematical Morphology Basics chapter for more
details.

Dilate

Erode

Close

Open

Separate Objects

Clean

Fill Holes

Drawing tools (vertical tool bar)

The binary image can be modified using various drawing tools. Although the way of use of some
tools differs, there are some general principles:

37
 Make sure you are in the right drawing mode (drawing background/foreground)
Any object that has not been completed yet can be canceled by pressing Esc .
The polygon-like shapes are drawn by clicks of the left mouse button. The right button
finishes the shape.
The auto-drawing tools (threshold, auto detect) have a changeable parameter. It can be
modified by +/- keys or by mouse wheel.
The scene can be magnified by the UP/DOWN arrows when mouse wheel serves another
purposes.
The right mouse button drags the image when magnified.
A line width can be set in the upper left corner.
Hints are displayed below the horizontal tool bar.

Drawing tools

Switches between the foreground and the background editing mode. <Ctrl+SPACE>

The Hand tool. Serves for moving the image when magnified. <Ctrl+W>

Bezier hollow tool. The object is defined by placing points on its perimeter. The lines
connecting those points can vary from straight lines to bezier curves. (Use +,- keys to
adjust them). To finish creation press the right mouse button. <Ctrl+F11>
Bezier fill tool. It equals the Bezier hollow tool, but the resulting object is filled.
<Ctrl+F12>
Draws a filled polygon. While holding the left mouse button down, you are in the free hand
mode. When you release it, each click defines a corner of the polygon. The polygon is
enclosed and filled by pressing the right mouse button. <F4>
Draws a polygon. It equals the Filled polygon tool, but the resulting object is not filled.
<F3>
Draws a filled circle. Click to determine the center and define the perimeter holding the left
mouse button down. <F8>
Draws a circle. Click to determine the center and define the perimeter holding the left
mouse button down. <F7>
Draws a filled rectangle. <F10>

Draws a rectangle. <F9>

'Draws a filled moveable circle/ellipse. If you grab the ellipse near the center, you can
move it. If you grab it near the border, the nearest semi-axis is being modified. When
holding down either the SHIFT or the CTRL key, both semi-axes change equally (forming a
circle). <F12>
Draws an ellipse. <F12>

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 Drawing by hand. <F1>

Draws a straight line. <F2>

Draws a polyline. <F5>

The Auto Detect filled tool. Detect hollows using threshold techniques. Click to the image
to place the probe, the detected area is drawn. You can adjust the thresholding range by
using the mouse wheel or by pressing the +, - keys. <Ctrl+B>
Threshold tool. Click into the image to place the probe (or more of them) to define the
initial color level for thresholding. Pres +,- keys or use the mouse wheel to change the
thresholding range. <J>
Fill an enclosed shape. <F6>

Area of interest. Entities outside the selected region will be cleared.

Text tool. Displays dialog box for defining text parameters.

Commands tool. Displays a pop up menu offering user some additional commands:

Commands

The Auto Detect hollow tool. Detect hollows using threshold techniques. Click to the image
to place the probe, the hollow is drawn. You can adjust the thresholding range by using the
mouse button or by pressing the +, - keys.
Draws rectangularly crossed lines.

Draws a rose. Click to the image to define the center, than drag the mouse to set the
length of it's arms.
Places a marker to the image. Simply click into image...

Selects binary objects.

The Connect tool. Draws a line(s) from the point you've clicked on, to the nearest
object(s).
Displays a grid. Visible only when using magnification 400% and higher.

Hides the binary image and displays the just the color image.

Inverts the binary image. Foreground becomes background and vice versa.

39
The last two buttons perform simplified versions of mathematical morphology functions. Please
see the Mathematical Morphology Basics chapter for more details.

Smooth

Contour

Tools are either applied in a "draw" (foreground) or "erase" (background) mode.

Some tools (like threshold or bezier) have editable parameters. Tips how to use the tools are
displayed in the vertical toolbar.

40
Mathematical Morphology Basics

The binary image as a result of thresholding often needs to be modified before any
measurements are performed. Edges of the objects can be smoothed, holes in the objects filled
etc. by using the mathematical morphology commands. “Image Analysis and Mathematical
Morphology” by J. Serra (Academic Press, London, 1982) is used as a reference publication for
the following overview.
Basic processes of mathematical morphology are: erosion, dilation, open, close and homotopic
transformations.

Erosion - After performing erosion, the objects are shrunk. It means that the inner layer
of objects is subtracted. If an object or a narrow cape is thinner than the thickness of the
inner layer they disappear from the image.
Dilation - After dilation the objects are enlarged. That means the outer layer of the
objects is added. If the distance between two objects is shorter than the thickness of two
layers these objects are connected together. If a hole is smaller than the thickness of two
layers, it disappears.
Open - In this case erosion is followed by dilation so the size of the objects is not
significantly affected. Contours are smoothed, small objects are suppressed and gently
connected, particles disconnected.
Close - In this case dilation is followed by erosion so the size of objects is not
significantly affected. Contours are smoothed, small holes and small depressions are
suppressed. Close objects may be connected together.

There are other very important transformations of binary images implemented in LUCIA binary
editor:

Clean - This transformation is also called geodesic opening. First, the image is eroded
and small objects disappear. Then, the remaining eroded objects are reconstructed to their
original size and shape. The advantage of this algorithm is that small objects disappear but
the rest of the image is not affected.
Fill Holes - Fills the holes inside the image. For example, you can detect only boundaries
of the objects because objects have rich inner structure with intensities typical for
background and boundaries. After filling the holes, boundaries are transformed to closed
areas.
Contour - This transformation converts an object into its contours.

Smooth - Smooth transformation affects sharp edges and smooths them.

Morpho separate objects This transformation detects standalone objects that are
connected together and detaches them.

Note:
Applying the above mentioned transformations in computerized image analysis brings some
limitations due to digitization. In digitized images, information is known only at grid verticals and

41
 limiting cut-out of real scene is available. This is the reason why the most frequent terms in
binary image processing are: structuring elements, connectivity, grids, problem with border
areas.

When speaking about binary image processing, binary image is considered as a set of pixels
where values 1 represent objects (white areas) and values 0 represent background (black areas).
LUCIA system uses a square grid. In this type of grid there are two possibilities of connectivity,
the 8-connectivity or the 4-connectivity. The difference between the 8 and 4 connectivities is
shown in the example picture. If the 8-connectivity is considered, there is one object in the
picture, if the 4-connectivity is considered, there are two single point objects in the picture.
LUCIA works with the 8-connectivity model, so all points neighboring by the corner belong to one
object.

Implementation in LUCIA
Erosion, dilation, opening and closing are defined by Matrix and Number of iterations. Matrix is
also known as the kernel or structuring element. There are the following structuring elements
used in LUCIA:

The bright pixel in the center or near the center defines the central point of a structuring
element.

Erosion
Lets assume the 1 and 0 values represent object(1) and background(0) pixels. You can imagine
an erosion by a Matrix as the following algorithm:
Move the bright pixel of the Matrix to every point of the image. Each time, look at the
neighborhood and make the following decision:

If there are object(1) pixels in all the positions of the Matrix, set the bright pixel to
object(1).
If there is at least one background(0) pixel in the neighborhood, set the bright pixel to
background(0).

The second parameter, the Number of iterations defines how many times the erosion is to be
applied.

Dilation
You can imagine a dilation by a Matrix as the following algorithm:
Move the bright pixel of the Matrix to every point of the image. Each time, look at the
neighborhood and make the following decision:

42
 If there is at least one object(1) pixel in any position of the Matrix, set the bright pixel to
object(1).
If there are background(0) pixels in all the positions of the Matrix, set the bright pixel to
background(0).

Open and Close

Open is performed by eroding the image and then applying a dilation to the eroded image. On
the contrary, Closing is performed as a dilation followed by erosion.

Note:
If the bright point is not in the center (the first and the third example picture above), then
applying erosions or dilations by odd number of iterations causes image to shift by 1 pixel.
Normally the total image shift would be given by the Number of Iterations (in pixels). LUCIA
eliminates this shift: it changes the position of the bright point 1 pixel down-rightwards within the
structuring element for even operations. For opening and closing it is possible to eliminate this
shift totally. However, if you run the erode or dilate processes again and again (e.g. calling the
Repeat Last command) using the Matrix with even dimensions and odd number of iterations, then
the shift is significant.

Examples

Original image Threshold();

43
 CloseHoles(); SmoothBinary();

CleanBinary(2,4); OpenBinary(1,4); CloseBinary(1,4);

44
OpenBinary(2,4); MorphoSeparateObjects(4,1);

Source Contour

45
Modifying Main Toolbar

LUCIA enables the adjustment of the user toolbar . You can define your own buttons to
perform various actions like invoking commands from menus, running application functions. To
adjust existing toolbar, right double-click any button on the vertical user toolbar on the
bottom-left side of the screen. Or, go for the menu command "View > Customize Toolbar >
Setup". The following dialog box will appear:

Lets say that we very often use the Close Binary function. It is useful to add the button with
the shortcut to this function to the user toolbar . First invoke the Modify Toolbar window.
Press the Add button, and choose Command from the context menu:

The new command (Command0) is added to the Current toolbar list. Now, attach the LUCIA
command to it. In the Button properties area click the Paste Command button. Choose a
command from the list (_CloseBinary() in our case). It appears in the Command edit-box. It is
possible to create a sequence of commands, by using the Paste Command button repeatedly.

46
 If you are not satisfied with the default icon given, you can change it by pressing the Change
button (shown on the picture bellow). A dialog window for selecting the icon appears. We choose
the icon that is used in Binary editor for the Close function. You can select LUCIA icons by
default or load some from other files containing icons (typically *.ico or *.dll files). You can define
another icon to be used for your command in a disabled state.

It is handy to define a tooltip (a text that appears when placing a mouse cursor over the icon) for
your command. Simply write the text into the Tooltip box. You can change the position of the
command in toolbar by using the arrows located under the Add and Remove buttons.
You can save your toolbar for further use by clicking the Save button. A dialog box appears.
You just define the name and press OK . You can delete an already saved toolbar by pressing
the Remove button. To load your saved toolbar use the Load button. A dialog window with
all saved toolbars plus one default appears. Select the toolbar you want and press OK .

Alternative button appearance

You can select between two modes of the buttons display. One is so called flat look (that is set
as default). Buttons are displayed as flat and they raise only if you move the mouse over. The
other is standard, known from earlier versions of LUCIA, with standard buttons. To change it
invoke the Edit > General Options dialog, pane Appereance . There, uncheck the Flat
look box in the Appereance/Handling section.

47
Command Line Options

When starting LUCIA from the command line (or when editing the desktop shortcut) you may
take advantage of using the following parameters:

Syntax and example:

executable [switches] [filenames]

"C:\Program Files\LUCIA\LUCIA.exe" -f "C:\Images\starting_image.jp2"

This runs LUCIA and opens the starting_image.jp2 at the beginning. By default only one running
instance is allowed. When another instance is already running, the command acts on that running
instance (if not changed by the -q switch).

Switches:

-? [no parameters]
Displays a help screen with the following content.

-f "Filename"
The application tries to open an image pointed to by Filename.

-g "Grabber name"
Grabber of the specified Grabber name will be used. No dialog box is shown. As the name of the
grabber, you can use the name which appears in the startup driver selection dialog, or the name
of the driver class.

-gn [no parameters]

No Grabber used.

-h "HW Unit Name"

A specified HW Unit will be used. When using this option you must also specify the grabber name.
Specifying last as a HW Unit will cause the application to use the one selected last time.

-i "Config Name"
Application will use the specified Config Name to load from and save to its configuration.

-l "Language"
Application will run in a specified language.

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-p [Command]
The application window will be placed according to the parameters:
When [Command] is:

left the window is placed on the left monitor.

right the window is placed on the right monitor.
top the window is placed on the top monitor.
bottom the window is placed on the bottom monitor.
monitor N the window is placed on the Nth monitor.
rectangle (x0,y0,x1,y1) the window is placed in the specified rectangle (in workspace
coordinates). The coordinates must be in parenthesis without any spaces.

-q [no parameters]
A new instance is created.

49
Key Shortcuts

Binary Mask Operations

Alt+Backspace Undo Swap

Ctrl+Delete Clear Binary Mask

Tab Binary Mask Editor...

Shift+F Define Threshold...

Ctrl+Shift+F Define Threshold (HSI)

Ctrl+H Fill Holes

C Contour

Ctrl+G Invert

F7 Length...

D Radius...

E Area...

Ctrl+F7 Angle...

Ctrl+A Options...

Ctrl+N Explore Objectives...

Ctrl+Shift+P Recalibrate Document via PPI...

Ctrl+Shift+O Recalibrate Quick Objective...

Camera Operations

F11 Camera Settings...

+ Live

- Capture

Ctrl+F Enable Focus Mode

Comparisons

F6 Full "Evidence"

F6 Full "Test"

50
P Preview

V Vertical

H Horizontal

T Transparency (50%)

I Interlaced

R Pseudo Red Green

Ctrl+D Difference

O Chopper

Ctrl+I Minimum

Ctrl+M Maximum

F8 Switch Processing Activity

F5 Switch Live Activity

Ctrl+Up Increase Transparency

Ctrl+Down Decrease Transparency

S Start Chopper

F9 Use Compare ROI

B ROI Border

Control Windows Visibility

F11 Camera Settings

Ctrl+Alt+H Histogram

M Image Manager

Ctrl+Alt+L LUTs

Ctrl+Alt+S Light Settings

J Objectives

Ctrl+Alt+W Panning Window

Docking Panes Visibility

Ctrl+Alt+Left Left

Ctrl+Alt+Up Top

51
Ctrl+Alt+Down Bottom

Ctrl+Alt+Right Right

File Operations

Ctrl+F12 Open...

F12 Save As...

Ctrl+F4 Close Image

Ctrl+Enter Save Next

F2 Open Previous

F3 Open Next

Ctrl+P Print...

Alt+F4 Exit...

Ctrl+Shift+Backspace Undo

Ctrl+Alt+Backspace Redo

Ctrl+Backspace Undo Swap

Ctrl+C Copy

Ctrl+Insert Select & Copy...

Ctrl+L Fast Select & Copy...

Ctrl+X Copy Screen

Ctrl+V Paste As New Image

Shift+L Paste...

Q Accepted Region...

Image Movements

Shift+Left, Left Shift Left

Shift+Right, Right Shift Right

Shift+Up, Up Shift Up

Shift+Down, Down Shift Down

Shift+PageUp, PageUp Rotate Left

Shift+PageDown, PageDown Rotate Right

52
Ctrl + Middle Mouse Button Define Center of Rotation...

Ctrl + Left Mouse Button Drag the current image...

Ctrl + Middle Mouse Button Drag the current binary layer...

Alt+Left Scroll Left

Alt+Right Scroll Right

Alt+Up Scroll Up

Alt+Down Scroll Down

Image Processing

Shift+N LUTs...

Shift+P Sharpen

Shift+R Convert to Gray

] Rotate Right

[ Rotate Left

X Flip Horizontally

Y Flip Vertically

Shift+Delete Clear Color

Alt+Delete, W Clear Annotations

Shift+G Negative

Layers Visibility

Ctrl+Alt+P, / Probe

A Annotations

* Graticules

Space Binary Mask

Overlay Mode Properties

Insert Change Color

Ctrl+Down Increase Transparency

Ctrl+Up Decrease Transparency

53
Reference Images Operations

Shift+V Evidence -> Test

Ctrl+Right Binary Mask -> Reference Binary Mask

Ctrl+Left Binary Mask <- Reference Binary Mask

Ctrl+W Binary Mask <-> Reference Binary Mask

Ctrl+S Scale Adjustment...

View

F10 Organizer Layout

L LUTs On/Off

Zooming

Alt++ Increase Zoom

Alt+- Decrease Zoom

` Fit to Screen

1 1:1 Zoom

54
55