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62 views61 pages

Manual Dp2-Twain e

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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 61

DP21

DP25
DP72
INSTRUCTIONS

DP2-TWAIN
CAMERA SOFTWARE INTERFACE

This instruction manual is for the OLYMPUS Microscope Digital Cameras operated via
the TWAIN interface. To ensure safety, obtain optimum performance and familiarize
yourself fully with the use of your camera, we recommend that you study your camera’s
manual thoroughly before operating the camera.
Any copyrights relating to this manual shall belong to OLYMPUS CORPORATION. We at
OLYMPUS CORPORATION have tried to make the information contained in this manual as
accurate and reliable as possible. Nevertheless, OLYMPUS CORPORATION disclaims any
warranty of any kind, whether expressed or implied, as to any matter whatsoever relating to this
manual, including without limitation the merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose.
OLYMPUS CORPORATION will from time to time revise the software described in this manual
and reserves the right to make such changes without obligation to notify the purchaser. In no event
shall OLYMPUS CORPORATION be liable for any indirect, special, incidental, or consequential
damages arising out of purchase or use of this manual or the information contained herein.

No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the prior written permission of
OLYMPUS CORPORATION.

Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access are trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation which can be registered in various countries. Adobe and Acrobat are
trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated which can be registered in various countries.

© OLYMPUS CORPORATION
All rights reserved

Version DP2TWAIN_23July2009
Contents

1 Image acquisition with the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN 6


1.1 Prerequisites for the operation ...........................................................6
1.2 Starting OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN ..........................................................6
1.3 Closing the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN ....................................................7
1.4 The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN dialog box ...............................................7

DP21
2 OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP21 8
2.1 Acquiring images ..................................................................................9
2.2 Adjusting the exposure time .............................................................10
2.2.1 Manual exposure time mode ................................................................10
2.2.2 Automatic exposure time mode ............................................................11
2.3 Selecting the resolution .....................................................................12
2.4 Trimming the image (Subarray) .........................................................13
2.5 Carrying out a white balance .............................................................14
2.6 Using the Focus Indicator ..................................................................14
2.7 Toggling between RGB/Grayscale mode .........................................15
2.8 Maximizing the live-image .................................................................15
2.9 Zooming the image .............................................................................16
2.10 Changing the camera settings ........................................................16
2.10.1 General ...............................................................................................17
2.10.2 Adjustment ..........................................................................................18
2.10.3 Exposure .............................................................................................19

3
3 Help when problems crop up with your DP21 20

DP25
4 OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP25 23
4.1 Selecting a camera .............................................................................24
Contents

4.2 Acquiring images ................................................................................25


4.3 Adjusting the exposure time .............................................................25
4.3.1 Automatic exposure time mode ............................................................25
4.3.2 Manual exposure time mode ................................................................28
4.4 Carrying out a white balance .............................................................28
4.5 Selecting the resolution .....................................................................29
4.6 Trimming the image (Subarray) .........................................................30
4.7 Increasing the frame rate (Field Update) ..........................................30
4.8 Using the Focus Indicator ..................................................................31
4.9 Toggling between RGB/Grayscale mode .........................................31
4.10 Maximizing the live-image ...............................................................32
4.11 Zooming the image ...........................................................................32
4.12 Changing the camera settings ........................................................33
4.12.1 General ...............................................................................................33
4.12.2 Adjustment ..........................................................................................34
4.12.3 Shading correction ..............................................................................35
4.12.4 Color ...................................................................................................39
4.12.5 Exposure .............................................................................................39
4.12.6 Information ..........................................................................................39
5 Help when problems crop up with your DP25 40

DP72
6 OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP72 43
4

6.1 Selecting a camera .............................................................................45


6.2 Acquiring images ................................................................................45
6.3 Adjusting the exposure time .............................................................45
6.3.1 Automatic exposure time mode ............................................................45
6.3.2 Manual exposure time mode ................................................................48
6.4 This is how you carry out a white balance .......................................48
6.5 Carrying out a black balance .............................................................49
Contents

6.6 Selecting the resolution .....................................................................49


6.7 Trimming the image (Subarray) .........................................................50
6.8 Improving the quality of the live-image (Image quality) ..................51
6.9 Configuring the gray value mode (Custom grayscale) ...................51
6.10 Setting the contrast (Contrast). .......................................................51
6.11 Using the Focus Indicator ................................................................52
6.12 Toggling between RGB/Grayscale mode .......................................52
6.13 Maximizing the live-image ...............................................................53
6.14 Zooming the image ...........................................................................53
6.15 Changing the camera settings ........................................................54
6.15.1 General ...............................................................................................54
6.15.2 Adjustment ..........................................................................................55
6.15.3 Color ...................................................................................................57
6.15.4 Exposure .............................................................................................57
6.15.5 Information ..........................................................................................57
6.15.6 Extras ..................................................................................................57
7 Help when problems crop up with your DP72 58

5
Image acquisition with the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN

1 Image acquisition with the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN


With the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN image acquisition software you can drive the
Olympus DP21, DP25, and DP72 cameras. The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN provides
you with an image acquisition software that uses the TWAIN interface.
TWAIN The image acquisition with your image acquisition software takes place via TWAIN.
This abbreviation stands for "Technology Without An Interesting Name". TWAIN is a
standardized software interface between software programs and image acquisition
hardware, such as digital cameras or scanners.
Your camera is controlled via a TWAIN driver. Therefore the image acquisition can
be carried out from another application program in which a TWAIN interface is avail-
able.
PLEASE NOTE We can not guarantee that each application using the TWAIN-interface can commu-
nicate with OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN. The correct working of DP2-TWAIN has been
verified with the following applications:
• Microsoft Office 2007
• Adobe Photoshop CS3

1.1 Prerequisites for the operation


The descriptions in this manual are based upon the following prerequisites:
• The camera drivers have been correctly installed.
• The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN software has been correctly installed.
• There is an application program on the PC that supports the image acquisition
via TWAIN.
• The camera has been connected.
With the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN software you can drive several cameras. In this
case, the driver for each of the cameras must have been separately installed. Please
make use of the appropriate camera manual for this purpose.

1.2 Starting OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN


OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN can not be started directly from MS-Windows.
1) Start an application which supports image acquisition via TWAIN.
2) In this application, select the command to acquire images.
• You may be requested to specify the TWAIN source. In this case, select
6

OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN.
" The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN dialog box will be opened.
How to start OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN from Microsoft Office 2007
1) Start your Microsoft Office 2007 application program, e.g., Word 2007.
2) Open the Microsoft Clip Organizer.
• In Word 2007, use the Insert > Clip Arts > Organize clips... command.
3) Select the File > Add Clips to Organizer > From Scanner or Camera...
command.
Image acquisition with the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN

" The Insert Picture from Scanner or Camera dialog box will be opened.
4) Select the entry OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN from the Device list and click the
Custom Insert button.
" The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN dialog box will be opened.
PLEASE NOTE Microsoft Clip Organizer automatically creates a folder for all images you acquire
using OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN. This folder is called My Collections > OLYMPUS
DP2-TWAIN.

How to start OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN from Adobe Photoshop CS3


1) Start Adobe Photoshop CS3.
2) Select the File > Import > OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN command.
" The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN dialog box will be opened.

1.3 Closing the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN


In most cases, the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN dialog box will be automatically closed
when an acquisition has been made. Some application programs that support the
acquisition of images via TWAIN, however, may leave the dialog box open after an
acquisition has been made. In this case, you can close the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN
dialog box by clicking on the cross at the top right of the dialog box.

1.4 The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN dialog box


The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN software has an image window in which the live-image
will be displayed, a dialog area for the camera control and a toolbar with elements for
adjusting the image size.
The camera control area of the dialog box is specific for the active camera. There-
fore, the usage is described in separate chapters for each camera model.

7
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP21

DP21

2 OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP21


Image Window Camera Control

Toolbar
8

The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN's image window displays the live-image.


OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP21

On the right-hand side


of the OLYMPUS Using the Focus Indicator (page 14)
DP2-TWAIN window,
you will find all of the
Toggling between RGB/Grayscale mode (page 15)
controls you need for Changing the camera settings (page 16)
image acquisitions.

Maximizing the live-image (page 15)

Acquiring images (page 9)

Adjusting the exposure time (page 10)

Selecting the resolution (page 12)

Trimming an image (Subarray) (page 13)

Carrying out a white balance (page 14)

9
2.1 Acquiring images
Click the Snap button.
The image will be transferred to the software application program from which you
started the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN software.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP21

2.2 Adjusting the exposure time


The manual exposure time mode is preset. You can, however, switch to the auto-
matic exposure time mode whenever you want to.
If you want to change the exposure time mode, select the option you want in the
Exposure group (either Manual or Automatic).

2.2.1 Manual exposure time mode


In the manual exposure time mode you can enter the exposure time yourself, in order
to reach a desired brightness.
With these controls you
can set the exposure
time manually.
4
3
1
2

There are several ways in which you can set the exposure time:

This is how you set the exposure time manually


1) Select the Manual option, in the Exposure Time group.
2) Set the exposure time. To do this, use one of the possibilities listed.
• Use the slide control (1).
• Click the plus and minus buttons (2).
• Use the arrow keys at the right-hand end of the edit field (3).
• Enter an exposure time in the edit field, then press the [Enter] key (4).
" The exposure time will be adapted, and the brightness of the live-image
changes.

Limiting the exposure time


In the camera settings, maximum exposure times are defined that limit the upwards
search for the correct exposure times. You can see these values in the Acquisition
Settings dialog box, and can also change them there. Click the Acquisition Settings
button in the camera control. Activate the Camera > Exposure option. Then you will
10

see the Maximum exposure time group.

Use the Manual slide control in order to change the maximum exposure time avail-
able for the manual settings of the exposure time.
The maximum automatic exposure time is preset and can't be modified.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP21

2.2.2 Automatic exposure time mode


In the Exposure Time group, select the Automatic option, to have the exposure time
set automatically.
In the automatic exposure time mode, your system will continuously calculate the
optimal exposure time. When snapshots are acquired, the last exposure time that
was calculated will always be used.

This is how you use the automatic calculation for the exposure time
1) Select the Automatic option, in the Exposure group.
" The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN software will then calculate the exposure time
automatically.

Locking the automatic exposure time


Click the Lock Current Exposure Time button to have the currently calculated expo-
sure time used for the complete duration of the live mode.
By doing this you will switch the automatic off for the duration of this acquisition. The
automatic calculation of the exposure time will no longer be used.
When you release the button, the exposure time will once again be automatically
calculated.

Region

11
To determine the automatic exposure time, the intensity of an image segment in the
center of the image is measured. Specify how large this segment is to be, in the
Region field. To do so, select an entry from the list.
The DP21 offers you the entries Spot 1% and Spot 30%.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP21

Sensitivity
In the Sensitivity list, select the suitable entry among the light sensitivity values which
you know from the classical photography (e.g., ISO 100). The higher the Sensitivity
value is, the higher is the sensitivity.
Select a higher light sensitivity in order to acquire dark samples. A higher light sensi-
tivity results in heightened noise, though.

Exposure compensation
If you want to, you can select a value from the Exposure compensation list. With this
value you can correct the automatic exposure time that has been calculated by the
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN software.
To correct the automatic exposure time, select a value from the Exposure compen-
sation list. The largest possible correction value is 4, the smallest -4.
Should your images be overexposed or appear to be too bright, when you use the
automatic exposure time, select a negative correction value.
Should your images be underexposed when you use the automatic exposure time,
select a positive correction value.
Select the value 0, if there is no need to correct the automatic exposure time.
Check the effect of the exposure time correction in the live-image.

2.3 Selecting the resolution


Your DP21 can acquire images with a variety of different resolutions. The resolution
can be set separately for the live mode and for the snapshot.
For the image that is displayed in the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN dialog box, the reso-
lution set for the live mode is relevant. The resolution for the snapshot will first then
be taken into account, when you transfer an image to the software application from
which you have started the OLYMPUS DP21-TWAIN software.
In the Resolution group
you select the resolution
for the live-image and
for a snapshot.
12

The following resolutions are available:


Live Snap
1600 x 1200 1600 x 1200
800 x 600 800 x 600
800 x 600 (Binning 2x2) 800 x 600 (Binning 2x2)

In the Snap list, by default, the entry with the highest resolution will always be preset.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP21

You can select a lower resolution in the live mode to increase the frame rate in the
live-image.
For the 800 x 600 resolution, two different modes are available. The camera's sensi-
tivity is much higher in the 800 x 600 (Binning 2x2) mode than in the 800 x 600 mode.

Changing the resolution


To alter the resolution, select the value you want, from the Live resp. Snap list.

Coupling the resolution


To couple the live-image's resolution with that used for the snapshots, click the
button with the chain icon. When you've done that, you'll only need to set a new reso-
lution in one place.
• The list in the Live field will then immediately become inactive.
• The value shown will, however, be updated if you set another value in the Snap
field.

2.4 Trimming the image (Subarray)


If you are only interested in a part of the image on display, you can determine that
only a part of the data will be read out of the camera. You define which part that is in
the image.
You can also use the subarray for the live-image. With the DP21, the subarray limits
the amount of data which is read out. This will make the live-image react more
quickly, and reduces the size of the acquired image's file.

This is how you set up a subarray


1) Define which part of the live-image you are interested in. To do so, click the
Toggle Subarray button.
" The image segment last used is displayed.
The displayed subarray
with eight handles for
changing the size

13
2) Move the Subarray rectangle to the place in the image that interests you. To do
this, click in the rectangle, then with the left mouse button depressed, drag it to
the place you want it.
3) Then adjust its size. To do this, drag the handles of the rectangle.
" Every image that you then acquire will only show the image segment you've
set.
If the live-image is also to be limited to this segment, select the Apply to Live check
box.
Click the Toggle Subarray button to switch the subarray method on or off.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP21

2.5 Carrying out a white balance


A white balance ensures that colors are correctly reproduced. When a white balance
is performed, the image's individual colors will be adjusted in such a way that the
white or neutral gray area of the image displayed on the monitor is reproduced
correctly.
In the DP21 group, you
select a mode for the
white balance.

If you know your light source's color temperature, select the required color tempera-
ture from the Whitebalance list.
If you don't know your light source's color temperature, remove the sample, or make
an image of a position on the sample that is colorless. Then click the OTWB button
(One Touch White Balance), to carry out a white balance on the current image. The
values thus determined will be used for all of the acquisitions that follow.

2.6 Using the Focus Indicator


Focus Indicator
Use the Focus Indicator to bring the sample into focus. The Focus Indicator calcu-
lates the current image sharpness. The Focus Indicator enables you to control the
focus during the live-image.
The Focus Indicator has a display that indicates the relative degree of sharpness by
means of two superimposed bars. The red bar shows the sharpest focusing that has
already been achieved. The blue bar shows the sharpness of focus that is being
achieved with the current focusing.

This is how you bring the sample into focus by using the Focus Indicator
1) Go to the place in the sample that interests you.
2) Click the button shown to switch the Focus Indicator on.
" The Focus Indicator will appear above the image.
" A red rectangle, labeled Focus, will appear in the image. Only the pixels
that are within this rectangle will be taken into account for the measure-
ment of the sharpness of your image.
14

3) Move the rectangle to the place you want to bring into focus and adapt it's size.
4) Turn the precision focusing knob on your microscope to change the focusing.
While doing this, watch the display in the Focus Indicator.
• The red bar shows the greatest sharpness that has currently been
achieved.
• The blue bar shows the sharpness of focus that is being achieved with the
current focusing.
5) Change the focusing on your microscope until the display is as completely blue
as possible.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP21

Click the Reset Focus Indicator button, to reset the sharpness monitor's bars at a
value of about 70% for a better visualization.

2.7 Toggling between RGB/Grayscale mode


With the DP21 you can acquire both color and gray-value images.
Acquiring color images
This button shows the DP21's current color mode. When the button looks like this,
you acquire color images.
Please note that the DP21 supports two different color modes. You set which color
mode is to be used, in the Acquisition Settings > Camera > General dialog box (see
also "Image type" on page 17).
Click this button to switch to the grayscale mode.
Acquiring gray-value images
This button shows the DP21's current color mode. When the button looks like this,
you acquire gray-value images.
Please note that when you are in the DP21's grayscale mode, you can load different
pseudo color tables. Whether a pseudo color table is to be used, and which table is
to be used, you set in the Acquisition Settings > Camera > General dialog box (see
also "Image type" on page 17).

2.8 Maximizing the live-image


Click the Maximize to Screen button, to have only the live-image displayed on your
monitor. The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN software's user interface will be almost
completely hidden.

Size of the live-image


The live-image's zoom factor won't be changed when you switch to the "Maximize"
mode. When you want to use all of the monitor for the display of the live-image, click
the Fit to Window button, before you switch to the "Maximize" mode (see also "Zoom
image" on page 16).

Switching off the "Maximize" mode


To end the mode and return to the "normal" user interface, use the [Esc] key or click
the Exit button.

15
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP21

2.9 Zooming the image


The image located in the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN's image window can be zoomed in
or out. To do this, use the button bar located above the image, or your mouse.
In the list field, the image's current magnification will be
shown as a percentage value. You can select other, fixed
preset magnifications, in the list field.

Zooming in the image


Click the Zoom In button to have the image displayed larger. If your mouse is
equipped with a mouse wheel, turn the mouse wheel backwards to zoom in the
image.

Zooming out the image


Click the Zoom Out button to have the image displayed smaller. If your mouse is
equipped with a mouse wheel, turn the mouse wheel forwards to zoom out the image.

Displaying the actual camera resolution


Click the Actual Pixels button to have every one of the camera's pixels displayed as
exactly one pixel on your monitor. This setting is equivalent to a magnification of
100%.

Fit to Window
Click the Fit to Window button or select this entry in the list, to have the complete
image displayed at the maximum possible size. The percentage value that this is
equivalent to depends on the camera you use, and the possible setting of the
subarray.

2.10 Changing the camera settings


If you want to change the camera settings, click the Acquisition Settings button. The
dialog box's tree view offers you access to the General, Adjustment, Exposure, and
Information dialog boxes. Select an entry in the tree view to load the respective dialog
box.
Click the Default button to return the settings in the active dialog box to their default
values. The current settings will then be lost.
Confirm your settings with OK.
16
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP21

2.10.1 General
Use this dialog box to make a variety of general camera settings.

Image type
Select the type of image you want to acquire with you camera, in the Image type list.
With the DP21, the following bit depths can be selected:
• 8-bit grayscale
• 8-bit RGB color
Select the 8-bit grayscale entry to acquire gray-value images.
Select the 8-bit RGB color entry to acquire color images. You can choose between
two different color modes.
Color mode The DP21 camera supports two color modes.
Select the Color 1 color mode to optimize the color images for the following Olympus
microscopes resp. model ranges: IX81/71, IX70, BX, AX, MX, GX, SZX.
Select the Color 2 color mode, to optimize the color images for the following Olympus
microscopes resp. model ranges: CX, CKX, IX51, IX50.

17
If you need to frequently toggle between the color and the grayscale modes, use the
Toggle RGB/Grayscale button. You will find this button in the Camera Control's
toolbar. By using it, you can switch from the grayscale mode to the color mode you
last selected, with one mouse click.

Mirror
Select the Horizontal check box to mirror the image horizontally during acquisition.
Select the Vertical check box to mirror the image vertically during acquisition.
The two forms of mirroring can be combined with each other.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP21

Pseudo Color
You can select a pseudo color display for your live-image. This pseudo color display
can be used in two ways:
• to mark image regions which are underexposed or overexposed
• to color gray-value images
Select the Use high/low pseudo color table option to mark underexposed and over-
exposed regions in the image with color. With this setting underexposed regions are
marked blue, overexposed regions are marked red. You can use the Use high/low
pseudo color table option not only for gray-value images but also for color images.
Select the Use pseudo color table for grayscale images option to provide gray-value
images with color. Click the Pseudo Color button to set the colors for the pseudo
color display. The Use pseudo color table for grayscale images is only available
when you have selected the 8-bit grayscale entry in the Bit depth list.
The display in pseudo color will only apply to the live-image. When, you acquire an
image by clicking the Snap button, the gray-value image will be transferred to the
software application from which you have started the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN soft-
ware.

2.10.2 Adjustment
Use this dialog box to set the image's sharpness.
18

Sharpness
Use the sharpen filter to increase or decrease the sharpness of the image by edge
enhancement. You change the strength of the sharpen filter by moving its slide
control.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP21

The image gains a smoother appearance when you use negative values and a
sharper one when you use positive values. Raising sharpness will accentuate edges,
but also increases image noise. Entering a value of 0 will result in the sharpen filter
having no effect at all.

CCD calibration
The CCD calibration group is of no relevance for the DP21.

2.10.3 Exposure
Use this dialog box in the Acquisition Settings to specify the maximum possible expo-
sure time for the manual exposure time mode (see also "Manual exposure time
mode" on page 10).

19
Help when problems crop up with your DP21

3 Help when problems crop up with your DP21


You can solve most of your image problems by changing the camera settings. To
open the Acquisition Settings dialog box, click the Acquisition Settings button located
in the camera control.
Problem Possible cause Remedy see
The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN The connection between the Switch your PC off, pull out the Camera
won't start. camera and your PC is faulty. power plug, then insert the manual
plugs on the connector cable
firmly into the FireWire board
and the camera.
Switch your PC back on.

The device drivers have not been Check the camera's installa- Camera
correctly installed. tion. manual

The false camera has been Select the correct camera


selected in the picklist located from this list.
beneath the Snap button in the
Camera Control.

No image can be seen. The lamp on your microscope is Switch the lamp on.
not switched on.

No light falls on the camera. Set the light path so that the
light falls on the camera.

Either the illumination has been Check the illumination and the
falsely set, or the sample falsely sample.
positioned.

With a snapshot, the message The connection between the Switch your PC off, pull out the
"Error making a snapshot" camera and your PC is faulty. power plug, then insert the
appears. plugs on the connector cable
firmly into the FireWire board
and the camera.
Switch your PC back on.

The live-image jerks. The frame rate is too low. Select a lower resolution. p. 12
20
Help when problems crop up with your DP21

Problem Possible cause Remedy see


The image looks too dark. The diaphragm is not wide Open the diaphragm on the
enough open. microscope wider.

The exposure time is too short. Reset the exposure time to p. 10


Automatic.

The sensitivity is too low. Increase the value in the p. 12


Sensitivity field.

The value for exposure compen- Select the value "0" from the p. 12
sation is negative. Exposure compensation list,
then reset the exposure time
correction.

The exposure time has been Release the Lock Current p. 11


locked at a too low value. Exposure Time button in the
Camera Control.

The illumination intensity is too Remove ND filters from the


low. light path, then increase the
lamp voltage.

The image looks too bright. The diaphragm is too wide open. Reduce the diaphragm
opening on the microscope.

The exposure time is too long. Reset the exposure time to p. 10


Automatic.

The sensitivity is too high. Reduce the Sensitivity value. p. 12

The value for exposure compen- Select the value "0" from the p. 12
sation is positive. Exposure compensation list,
then reset the exposure time
correction.

The exposure time has been Release the Lock Current p. 11


locked at a too high value. Exposure Time button in the
Camera Control.

The illumination intensity is too Move ND filters into the light


high. path, then decrease the lamp
voltage.

21
The colors look peculiar. The white balance was not Select another mode for the p. 14
carried out correctly. calculation of the white
balance.

The PC's color settings are incor- Set the PC's color depth to at
rect. least 24 bit.
Help when problems crop up with your DP21

Problem Possible cause Remedy see


The images are blurred. Your microscope has not been Correct the focus setting.
correctly focused.

The condenser's aperture stop is Close the aperture stop


too wide open. further.

The iris diaphragm is not correctly Set the iris diaphragm so that
adjusted. your image exactly repro-
duces the image area.

Optical components of your Clean your microscope's


microscope, or the camera's optical components and the
protective glass, are dirty. camera's protective glass.

Microscope and/or camera are Mount your microscope and


exposed to vibrations. camera in such a way that
they are no longer exposed to
vibrations.
22
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP25

DP25

4 OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP25


Image Window Camera Control

Toolbar

The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN's image window displays the live-image.

23
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP25

On the right-hand side Carrying out a white balance (page 28)


of the OLYMPUS Using the Focus Indicator (page 31)
DP2-TWAIN window, Toggling between RGB/Grayscale mode (page 31)
you will find all of the
controls you need for
Acquisition Settings dialog box (page 33)
image acquisitions. Maximizing the live-image (page 32)

Acquiring an image (page 25)

Selecting a camera (page 24)

Setting the exposure time (page 25)

Selecting the resolution (page 29)

Trimming an image (page 30)

Activating the Field Update (page 30)

4.1 Selecting a camera


24

The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN software can drive several connected cameras. You
select the camera you want to use for the acquisition in the Camera list (see the illus-
tration on page 24). You can switch over to another camera whenever you want to.
This chapter describes how to use the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN software with the
DP25 camera. Other cameras that use the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN as an interface,
will be dealt with individually in their own chapter.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP25

4.2 Acquiring images


Click the Snap button.
The image will be transferred to the software application program from which you
started the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN software.

4.3 Adjusting the exposure time


An automatic exposure time mode, which will already produce excellent results, is
preset. You can, however, switch to the manual exposure time mode whenever you
want to.
If you want to change the exposure time mode, select the option you want in the
Exposure group (either Manual or Automatic).

4.3.1 Automatic exposure time mode


In the Exposure Time group, select the Automatic option, to have the exposure time
selected automatically.
In the automatic exposure time mode, your system will continuously calculate the
optimal exposure time. When snapshots are acquired, the last exposure time that
was calculated will always be used.

This is how you use the automatic calculation for the exposure time

25
1) Select the Automatic option, in the Exposure group.
" The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN software will then calculate the exposure time
automatically.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP25

In the camera settings, maximum exposure times are defined that limit the upwards
search for the correct exposure times. You can see these values in the Acquisition
Settings dialog box, and can also change them there. Click the Acquisition Settings
button in the camera control. Activate the Camera > Exposure option. Then you will
see the Maximum exposure time group.

Use the Automatic slide control in order to change the maximum exposure time avail-
able for the automatic calculation of the exposure time.

Exposure time display


The three small lights below the edit field show how good the exposure time setting
is. When the round light in the middle lights up, the exposure time set is good. When
one of the triangular lights burns green, the exposure time should be adjusted corre-
spondingly to the direction the arrow indicates. When the green arrow points to the
right, increase the exposure time, when it points to the left, decrease it.
A red arrow indicates that the exposure time has to be changed, but that the adjust-
ment range's limit has already been reached. If a red arrow points to the right,
increase the illumination intensity. Should that not be possible, you can then increase
the camera's maximum exposure time (see also "Exposure" on page 39). If a red
arrow points to the left, reduce your microscope's illumination intensity.

Locking the automatic exposure time


Click the Lock Current Exposure Time button to have the currently calculated expo-
sure time used for the complete duration of the live mode.
By doing this you will switch the automatic off for the duration of this acquisition. The
automatic calculation of the exposure time will no longer be used.
When you release the button, the exposure time will once again be automatically
calculated.

Stabilizing the automatic exposure time


26

Moving the sample can make the live-image flicker in the live mode, since the auto-
matic exposure time calculation then has to be continually readjusted.
To slow down the rate at which the automatic exposure time is calculated, click the
Slow down Auto Exposure button. This will result in the exposure time being calcu-
lated with a certain amount of delay, when the brightness in the image changes
quickly (e.g., when you search through a sample with very bright and very dark
areas).
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP25

Region
If you want to, you can determine that the exposure time will only be measured on a
part of the image. You do this in the Region field. To do so, select an entry from the
list.

If you have selected a spot, you have to define the Region of Interest (ROI) in the
image on which the exposure time is to be measured.
Should you want to position the spot in the center of the image, you should click the
Center Spot on Image button.
Select the Full Image entry, if the exposure time is to be measured on the whole
image.

Sensitivity
In the Sensitivity list, select the suitable entry among the light sensitivity values which
you know from the classical photography (e.g., ISO 100). The higher the Sensitivity
value is, the higher is the sensitivity.
Select a higher light sensitivity in order to acquire dark samples. A higher light sensi-
tivity results in heightened noise, though.

Exposure compensation
If you want to, you can select a value from the Exposure compensation list. With this
value you can correct the automatic exposure time that has been calculated by the
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN software.
To correct the automatic exposure time, select a value from the Exposure compen-
sation list. The largest possible correction value is 4, the smallest -4.
Should your images be overexposed or appear to be too bright, when you use the
automatic exposure time, select a negative correction value.
Should your images be underexposed when you use the automatic exposure time,
select a positive correction value.
Select the value 0, if there is no need to correct the automatic exposure time.

27
Check the effect of the exposure time correction in the live-image.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP25

4.3.2 Manual exposure time mode


In the manual exposure time mode you can enter the exposure time yourself, in order
to reach a desired brightness.
With these controls you
can set the exposure 4
time manually.
3
1
2 2

There are several ways in which you can set the exposure time:

This is how you set the exposure time manually


1) Select the Manual option, in the Exposure Time group.
2) Set the exposure time. To do this, use one of the possibilities listed.
• Use the slide control (1).
• Click the plus and minus buttons (2).
• Use the arrow keys at the right-hand end of the edit field (3).
• Enter an exposure time in the edit field, then press the [Enter] key (4).
" The exposure time will be adapted, and the brightness of the live-image
changes.

If you wish, the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN software can supply you with a benchmark,
with the help of which you will be able to set a suitable exposure time manually. To
obtain this, click the One time Auto Exposure button.
The value set will be that which the automatic exposure time mode currently supplies.

4.4 Carrying out a white balance


If the colors are not being correctly reproduced, you will have to carry out a white
balance before you make an acquisition. When a white balance is performed, the
individual colors of the image will be adjusted in such a way that the white or neutral
gray area of the image displayed on the monitor is displayed correctly.

This is how you carry out a white balance


1) Click the White Balance on ROI button. You will find this button in the Camera
28

Control's toolbar.
" The mouse pointer changes its form to a pipette.
2) Move the mouse pointer onto the top left corner of an image segment that is to
be displayed in white. With the left mouse button depressed draw a frame.
" As soon as you release the mouse button, the individual image colors will be
adapted in such a way that the selected image segment is displayed in
white.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP25

4.5 Selecting the resolution


Your DP25 can acquire images with a variety of different resolutions. The resolution
can be set separately for the live mode and for the snapshot.
For the image that is displayed in the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN dialog box, the reso-
lution set for the live mode is relevant. The resolution for the snapshot will first then
be taken into account, when you transfer an image to the software application from
which you have started the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN software.
In the Resolution group
you select the resolution
for the live-image and
for a snapshot.

The following resolutions are available:


Live Snap
2560 x 1920 2560 x 1920
1280 x 960 1280 x 960
854 x 640 854 x 640
640 x 480 640 x 480

In the Snap list, by default, the entry with the highest resolution will always be preset.
You can select a lower resolution in the live mode to increase the frame rate in the
live-image.

Changing the resolution


To alter the resolution, select the value you want, from the Live resp. Snap list.

Coupling the resolution


To couple the live-image's resolution with that used for the snapshots, click the
button with the chain icon. When you've done that, you'll only need to set a new reso-
lution in one place.
• The list in the Live field will then immediately become inactive.

29
• The value shown will, however, be updated if you set another value in the Snap
field.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP25

4.6 Trimming the image (Subarray)


If you are only interested in a part of the image on display, you can determine that
only a part of the data will be read out of the camera. You can define which part that
is in the image.
You can also use the subarray for the live-image. With the DP25, the subarray limits
the amount of data which is read out. This will make the live-image react more
quickly, and reduces the size of the acquired image's file.

This is how you set up a subarray


1) Define which part of the live-image you are interested in. To do so, click the
Toggle Subarray button.
" The image segment last used is displayed.
The displayed subarray
with eight handles for
changing the size

2) Move the Subarray rectangle to the place in the image that interests you. To do
this, click in the rectangle, then with the left mouse button depressed, drag it to
the place you want it.
3) Then adjust its size. To do this, drag the handles of the rectangle.
" Every image that you then acquire will only show the image segment you've
set.
If the live-image is also to be limited to this segment, select the Apply to Live check
box.
Click the Toggle Subarray button to switch the subarray method on or off.

4.7 Increasing the frame rate (Field Update)


Select the Field Update check box to make the live-image react quickly. The image
quality in the live mode decreases.
The Field Update is not available in the live resolution 1280 x 960.
30
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP25

4.8 Using the Focus Indicator


Focus Indicator
Use the Focus Indicator to bring the sample into focus. The Focus Indicator calcu-
lates the current image sharpness and enables you to continuously check the focus
in the live-image.
The Focus Indicator has a display that indicates the relative degree of sharpness by
means of two superimposed bars. The red bar shows the sharpest focusing that has
already been achieved. The blue bar shows the sharpness that is being achieved
with the current focusing.

This is how you bring the sample into focus by using the Focus Indicator
1) Go to the place in the sample that interests you.
2) Click the button shown to switch the Focus Indicator on.
" The Focus Indicator will appear above the image.
" A red rectangle, labeled Focus, will appear in the image. Only the pixels
that are within this rectangle will be taken into account for the measure-
ment of the sharpness of your image.
3) Move the rectangle to the place you want to bring into focus and adapt it's size.
4) Turn the precision focusing knob on your microscope to change the focusing.
While doing this, watch the display in the Focus Indicator.
• The red bar shows the greatest sharpness that has currently been
achieved.
• The blue bar shows the sharpness that is being achieved with the current
focusing.
5) Change the focusing on your microscope until the display is as completely blue
as possible.
Click the Reset Focus Indicator button, to reset the sharpness monitor's bars at a
value of about 70% for a better visualization.

4.9 Toggling between RGB/Grayscale mode


With the DP25 you can acquire both color and gray-value images.
Acquiring color images

31
This button shows the DP25's current color mode. When the button looks like this,
you acquire color images.
Click this button to switch to the grayscale mode.
Acquiring gray-value images
When the button looks like this, you acquire gray-value images.
Click this button to switch to the RGB mode.
Please note that when you are in the DP25's grayscale mode, you can load different
pseudo color tables. Whether a pseudo color table is to be used, and which table is
to be used, you set in the Acquisition Settings > Camera > General dialog box (see
also "Image type" on page 33).
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP25

4.10 Maximizing the live-image


Click the Maximize to Screen button, to have only the live-image displayed on your
monitor. The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN software's user interface will be almost
completely hidden.

Size of the live-image


The live-image's zoom factor won't be changed when you switch to the "Maximize"
mode. When you want to use all of the monitor for the display of the live-image, click
the Fit to Window button, before you switch to the "Maximize" mode (see also "Zoom
image" on page 32).

Switching off the "Maximize" mode


To end the mode and return to the "normal" user interface, use the [Esc] key or click
the Exit button.

4.11 Zooming the image


The image located in the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN's image window can be zoomed in
or out. To do this, use the button bar located above the image, or your mouse.
In the list field, the image's current magnification will be
shown as a percentage value. You can select other, fixed
preset magnifications, in the list field.

Zooming in the image


Click the Zoom In button to have the image displayed larger. If your mouse is
equipped with a mouse wheel, turn the mouse wheel backwards to zoom in the
image.

Zooming out the image


Click the Zoom Out button to have the image displayed smaller. If your mouse is
equipped with a mouse wheel, turn the mouse wheel forwards to zoom out the image.
32

Displaying the actual camera resolution


Click the Actual Pixels button to have every one of the camera's pixels displayed as
exactly one pixel on your monitor. This setting is equivalent to a magnification of
100%.

Fit to Window
Click the Fit to Window button or select this entry in the list, to have the complete
image displayed at the maximum possible size. The percentage value that this is
equivalent to depends on the camera you use, and the possible setting of the
subarray.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP25

4.12 Changing the camera settings


If you want to change the camera settings, click the Acquisition Settings button. The
dialog box's tree view offers you access to the General, Adjustment, Color, Expo-
sure, and Information dialog boxes. Select an entry in the tree view to load the
respective dialog box.
Click the Default button to return the settings in the active dialog box to their default
values. The current settings will then be lost.
Confirm your settings with OK.

4.12.1 General
Use this dialog box to make a variety of general camera settings.

Image type
With the DP25, the following bit depths can be selected:
• 8-bit grayscale
• 8-bit color

33
Mirror
Select the Horizontal check box to mirror the image horizontally during acquisition.
Select the Vertical check box to mirror the image vertically during acquisition.
The two forms of mirroring can be combined with each other.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP25

Pseudo Color
You can select a pseudo color display for your live-image. This pseudo color display
can be used in two ways:
• to mark image regions which are underexposed or overexposed
• to color gray-value images
Select the Use high/low pseudo color table option to mark underexposed and over-
exposed regions in the image with color. With this setting underexposed regions are
marked blue, overexposed regions are marked red. You can use the Use high/low
pseudo color table option not only for gray-value images but also for color images.
Select the Use pseudo color table for grayscale images option to provide gray-value
images with color. Click the Pseudo Color button to set the colors for the pseudo
color display. The Use pseudo color table for grayscale images option is only avail-
able for gray-value images.
The display in pseudo color will only apply to the live-image. When you click the Snap
button to acquire an image, a gray-value image will be acquired.

4.12.2 Adjustment
Use this dialog box in the camera settings to change the several camera settings
manually.
34

You will change the settings for all color channels simultaneously. If you want to
accentuate or tone down one particular color channel, use the functions in the Color
dialog box.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP25

Gamma
Gamma increases, respectively lowers, the image contrast, subject to the intensity I
of a pixel, according to the following equation.
1⁄γ
I0 = I
with I = intensity value of the resulting image, I0= the intensity value of the source
image.
The values for Gamma vary between 0.1 and 9.99. Values smaller than 1 make the
image altogether darker. At the same time, the contrast in bright areas of the image
will be increased. Values greater than 1 make the image altogether brighter. At the
same time, the contrast in dark areas of the image will be increased.

Sharpness
Use the sharpen filter to increase or decrease the sharpness of the image by edge
enhancement. You change the strength of the sharpen filter by moving its slide
control.
The image gains a smoother appearance when you use negative values and a
sharper one when you use positive values. Raising sharpness will accentuate edges,
but also increases image noise. Entering a value of 0 will result in the sharpen filter
having no effect at all.

Contrast
Move the Contrast slide control to change the contrast values of the image. Values
smaller than 1 lower the image contrast. Values greater than 1 enhance the image
contrast.
When you change the image contrast the brightest part of the image always remains
the same.
After the image contrast has been changed ti's possible that dark or bright image
areas will no longer be displayed optimally. In this case, use the Brightness slide
control to make the whole image brighter or darker.

Brightness
Use the Brightness slide control, if the whole image is too bright or too dark. Values
smaller than 0 lower the image brightness. Values greater than 0 increase the image
brightness.

35
4.12.3 Shading correction
In the Shading Correction group you can correct two different types of shading. First
of all, the shading correction corrects the effect of an inhomogeneous illumination
(Illumination correction). Additionally, the shading correction corrects the different
sensitivity of individual pixels on the CCD chip (Noise correction).
Select the Dark option to activate the Noise Correction.
Select the Flatfield option to activate both the Illumination Correction and the Noise
Correction.
Select the Off option to disable the shading correction.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP25

Click the Edit... button to check whether correction images have already been
acquired or not. When correction images are available, you will find them listed here.
In the Image Type column, the correction images for the noise correction are indi-
cated by the entry Dark, the correction images for the illumination correction, with the
entry Flatfield.

What is "Shading"?
Every optical system with a camera and microscope creates, even when the devices
have been set up very carefully, image inhomogeneities in the illumination of the
sample. These are called shading.
For a shading correction, the shading will first be determined in order to make correc-
tions to the acquired image possible.
The left illustration
shows an image where
the online shading
correction has not been
activated. In compar-
ison to the image on the
right with active shading
correction, one can
recognize the inhomo-
36

geneous illumination.

Dark correction image


The Dark correction image is an acquisition during which no light falls on the camera.
Here, pixels with different brightness resulting from noise or different sensitivity of
individual pixels on the camera chip can be corrected by the correction image. The
Dark correction image is characteristic for each camera and need only be acquired
once. It is valid for all objectives.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP25

Flatfield correction image


On the Flatfield correction image the illumination of the complete optical system
without a sample will be shown. A separate correction image must be made for every
objective, and for every resolution, your camera uses.
You have to acquire new illumination correction images every time you make
changes in your optical system. For example, when you clean your microscope,
change the objectives or change the camera.

Acquiring images for the shading correction


1) Open the Acquisition Settings > Adjustment dialog box. Click the Calibrate...
button.
" The Shading Correction wizard will open.

2) If you have already acquired a Dark correction image, the Skip recording dark
correction image check box will be automatically selected.
Clear the check box, if you want to acquire a Dark correction image.
Click the Next > button.

37
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP25

3) Then follow the instructions given you by the software wizard. Close the light
path selector knob on your microscope, so that no light can fall on the camera.
Then click Next.
" The Dark correction image will be acquired.
" The wizard's next dialog box will open.

4) Move to a place where there is neither a sample nor any scratches nor dust.
5) Click the Next button and acquire the correction images for the currently
selected objective.
" The correction images for all camera resolutions will automatically be ac-
quired.
38

6) Click the Finish button to finalize the calibration and return to the Acquisition
Settings > Adjustment dialog box.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP25

4.12.4 Color
Use this dialog box in the camera settings to change the camera's color settings
manually.

Saturation
Increase the Saturation in order to see more saturated colors.

4.12.5 Exposure
Use this dialog box in the camera settings to set the maximum possible exposure
times for the image acquisition (see also "Adjusting the exposure time" on page 25).

4.12.6 Information
Use this dialog box in the camera settings to display information about your DP25
camera.

39
Help when problems crop up with your DP25

5 Help when problems crop up with your DP25


You can solve most of your image problems by changing the camera settings. To
open the Acquisition Settings dialog box, click the Acquisition Settings button.

Problem Possible cause Remedy see


The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN The connection between the Switch your PC off, pull out the
won't start. camera and your PC is faulty. power plug, then insert the
plugs on the connector cable
firmly into the FireWire board
and the camera.
Switch your PC back on.

The device drivers have not been Check the camera's installa- (Camera
correctly installed. tion. manual)

The false camera has been Select the correct camera p. 24


selected in the picklist located from this list.
beneath the Snap button in the
Camera Control.

No image can be seen. The lamp on your microscope is Switch the lamp on.
not switched on.

No light falls on the camera. Set the light path so that the
light falls on the camera.

Either the illumination has been Check the illumination and the
falsely set, or the sample falsely sample.
positioned.

With a snapshot, the message The connection between the Switch your PC off, pull out the
"Error making a snapshot" camera and your PC is faulty. power plug, then insert the
appears. plugs on the connector cable
firmly into the FireWire board
and the camera.
Switch your PC back on.

The live-image jerks. The frame rate is too low. Select a lower resolution. p. 29
40
Help when problems crop up with your DP25

Problem Possible cause Remedy see


The image looks too dark. The diaphragm is not wide Open the diaphragm on the
enough open. microscope wider.

The exposure time is too short. Reset the exposure time to p. 25


Automatic.

The sensitivity is too low. Increase the Sensitivity. p. 27

The value for exposure compen- Select the value "0" from the p. 27
sation is negative. Exposure compensation list,
then reset the exposure time
correction.

The exposure time has been Release the Lock Current p. 26


locked at a too low value. Exposure Time button in the
Camera Control.

The measurement area for the Shift the measurement area p. 27


calculation of the exposure time into the segment of the image
is in an area that is too bright. that you want to have correctly
exposed.

The illumination intensity is too Remove ND filters from the


low. light path, then increase the
lamp voltage.

The image looks too bright. The diaphragm is too wide open. Reduce the diaphragm
opening on the microscope.

The exposure time is too long. Reset the exposure time to p. 25


Automatic.

The sensitivity is too high. Reduce the Sensitivity value. p. 27

The value for exposure compen- Select the value "0" from the p. 27
sation is positive. Exposure compensation list,
then reset the exposure time
correction.

The exposure time has been Release the Lock Current p. 26


locked at a too high value. Exposure Time button in the
Camera Control.

41
The measurement area for the Shift the measurement area p. 27
calculation of the exposure time into the segment of the image
is in an area that is too dark. that you want to have correctly
exposed.

The illumination intensity is too Move ND filters into the light


high. path, then decrease the lamp
voltage.
Help when problems crop up with your DP25

Problem Possible cause Remedy see


The colors look peculiar. The white balance was not Repeat the white balance. p. 28
carried out correctly.

The PC's color settings are incor- Set the PC's color depth to at
rect. least 24 bit.

The images are blurred. Your microscope has not been Correct the focus setting.
correctly focused.

The condenser's aperture stop is Close the aperture stop


too wide open. further.

The iris diaphragm is not correctly Set the iris diaphragm so that
adjusted. your image exactly repro-
duces the image area.

Optical components of your Clean your microscope's


microscope, or the camera's optical components and the
protective glass, are dirty. camera's protective glass.

Microscope and/or camera are Mount your microscope and


exposed to vibrations. camera in such a way that
they are no longer exposed to
vibrations.
42
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP72

DP72

6 OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP72


Image Window Camera Control

Toolbar

The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN's image window displays the live-image.

43
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP72

On the right-hand side


of the OLYMPUS Carrying out a black balance (page 48)
DP2-TWAIN window, Carrying out a white balance (page 49)
you will find all of the Using the Focus Indicator (page 52)
controls you need for Toggling between RGB/Grayscale mode (page 52)
image acquisitions. Acquisition Settings dialog box (page 54)
Maximizing the live-image (page 53)

Acquiring an image (page 45)

Selecting a camera (page 45)

Setting the exposure time (page 45)

Selecting the resolution (page 49)

Trimming an image (page 50)


44

Setting the live-image quality (page 51)

Using Custom grayscale (page 51)

Setting the contrast (page 51)


OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP72

In the manual on hand, you will find a comprehensive description of how to use the
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN software. For information on how to use the application
program you open, please turn to the manual for this application program.

6.1 Selecting a camera


The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN software can drive several connected cameras. You
select the camera you want to use for the acquisition in the Camera list (see the illus-
tration on page 44). You can switch over to another camera whenever you want to.
This chapter describes how to use the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN software with the
DP72 camera. Other cameras that use the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN as an interface,
will be dealt with individually in their own chapter.

6.2 Acquiring images


Click the Snap button.
The image will be transferred to the software application program from which you
started the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN.

6.3 Adjusting the exposure time


An automatic exposure time mode, which will already produce excellent results, is
preset. You can, however, switch to the manual exposure time mode whenever you
want to.
If you want to change the exposure time mode, select the option you want in the
Exposure group (either Manual or Automatic).

6.3.1 Automatic exposure time mode


In the Exposure Time group, select the Automatic option, to have the exposure time
selected automatically.
In the automatic exposure time mode, your system will continuously calculate the
optimal exposure time. When snapshots are acquired, the last exposure time that
was calculated will always be used.

45
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP72

Using the automatic calculation for the exposure time


1) Select the Automatic option, in the Exposure group.
" The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN will then calculate the exposure time auto-
matically.
In the camera settings, maximum exposure times are defined that limit the upwards
search for the correct exposure times. You can see these values in the Acquisition
Settings dialog box, and can also change them there. Click the Acquisition Settings
button in the camera control. Activate the Camera > Exposure option. Then you will
see the Maximum exposure time group.

Use the Automatic slide control in order to change the maximum exposure time avail-
able for the automatic calculation of the exposure time.

Exposure time display


The exposure time indicator is only available for the automatic exposure mode.
The three small lights below the edit field show how good the exposure time setting
is. When the round light in the middle lights up, the exposure time set is good. When
one of the triangular lights burns green, the exposure time should be adjusted corre-
spondingly to the direction the arrow indicates. When the green arrow points to the
right, increase the exposure time, when it points to the left, decrease it.
A red arrow indicates that the exposure time has to be changed, but that the adjust-
ment range's limit has already been reached. If a red arrow points to the right,
increase the illumination intensity. Should that not be possible, you can then increase
the camera's maximum exposure time (see also "Exposure" on page 57). If a red
arrow points to the left, reduce your microscope's illumination intensity.

Locking the automatic exposure time


Click the Lock Current Exposure Time button to have the currently calculated expo-
sure time used for the complete duration of the live mode.
By doing this you will switch the automatic off for the duration of this acquisition. The
46

automatic calculation of the exposure time will no longer be used.


When you release the button, the exposure time will once again be automatically
calculated.

Stabilizing the automatic exposure time


Moving the sample can make the live-image flicker in the live mode, since the auto-
matic exposure time calculation then has to be continually readjusted.
To slow down the rate at which the automatic exposure time is calculated, click the
Slow down Auto Exposure button. This will result in the exposure time being calcu-
lated with a certain amount of delay, when the brightness in the image changes
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP72

quickly (e.g., when you search through a sample with very bright and very dark
areas).

SFL
Use the SFL check box when you want to make fluorescence acquisitions. In the SFL
mode, you can acquire good fluorescence images for different fluorescence samples
without having to make extensive adjustments to the exposure time.

Region
If you want to, you can determine that the exposure time will only be measured on a
part of the image, you do this in the Region field. To do so, select an entry from the
list.

If you have selected a spot, you have to define the Region of Interest (ROI) in the
image on which the exposure time is to be measured.
Should you want to position the spot in the center of the image, you should click the
Center Spot on Image button.
Select the Full Image entry, if the exposure time is to be measured on the whole
image.

Sensitivity
In the Sensitivity list, select the suitable entry among the light sensitivity values which
you know from the classical photography (e. g., ISO 100). The higher the Sensitivity
value is, the higher is the sensitivity.
Select a higher light sensitivity in order to acquire dark samples. A higher light sensi-
tivity results in heightened noise, though.

Adjustment
If you want to, you can select a value from the Adjustment list. With this value you
can correct the automatic exposure time that has been calculated by the OLYMPUS
DP2-TWAIN software.

47
To correct the automatic exposure time, select a value from the Adjustment list. The
largest possible correction value is 2, the smallest -2.
Should your images be overexposed or appear to be too bright, when you use the
automatic exposure time, select a negative correction value.
Should your images be underexposed when you use the automatic exposure time,
select a positive correction value.
Select the value 0, if there is no need to correct the automatic exposure time.
Test the effect of the exposure time correction in the live-image.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP72

6.3.2 Manual exposure time mode


In the manual exposure time mode you can enter the exposure time yourself, in order
to reach a desired brightness.
With this controls you
can set the exposure 4
time manually.
3
1
2 2

Setting the exposure time manually


There are several ways in which you can set the exposure time:
1) Use the slide control (1).
2) Click the plus and minus buttons (2).
3) Click the arrow keys at the right-hand end of the edit field (3).
4) Enter an exposure time in the edit field, then press the [Enter] key (4).
" The exposure time will be adapted, and the brightness of the live-image
changes.

If you wish, the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN software can supply you with a benchmark,
with the help of which you will be able to set a suitable exposure time manually. To
obtain this, click the One time Auto Exposure button.
The value set will be that which the automatic exposure time mode currently supplies.

6.4 This is how you carry out a white balance


If the colors are not being correctly reproduced, you will have to carry out a white
balance before you make an acquisition. When a white balance is performed, the
individual colors of the image will be adjusted in such a way that the white or neutral
gray area of the image displayed on the monitor is displayed correctly.

Carrying out a white balance


1) Click the White Balance on ROI button. You will find this button in the Camera
Control's toolbar.
48

" The mouse pointer changes its form to a pipette.


2) Move the mouse pointer onto the top left corner of an image segment that is to
be displayed in white. With the left mouse button depressed draw a frame.
" As soon as you release the mouse button, the individual image colors will be
adapted in such a way that the selected image segment is displayed in
white.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP72

6.5 Carrying out a black balance


With fluorescence acquisitions, the background, i.e., everything that does not belong
to the excited sample, should be displayed in a uniform black. Therefore, you should
carry out a black balance whenever you want to acquire fluorescence images and
observe that the background is not uniformly displayed in black. Should the auto-
matic determination of the exposure time have been activated, you can only carry out
a black balance when the camera is running in the SFL mode.

This is how you carry out a black balance


1) Click the Black Balance on ROI button. You will find this button in the Camera
Control's toolbar.
" The mouse pointer changes its form to a pipette.
2) Move the mouse pointer onto the top left corner of an image segment that is to
be displayed in black. With the left mouse button depressed draw a frame.
" As soon as you release the mouse button, the image brightness will be
adapted in such a way that the selected image segment is displayed in
black.

6.6 Selecting the resolution


Your DP72 can acquire images with a variety of different resolutions. The resolution
can be set separately for the live mode and for the snapshot.
For the image that will be displayed in the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN dialog box, the
resolution set for the live mode is relevant. The resolution for the snapshot will first
then be taken into account, when you transfer an image to the software application
from which you have started the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN software.
In the Resolution group
you select the resolution
for the live-image and
for a snapshot.

49
The following resolutions are available:
Live Snapshot
- 4140 x 3096
- 2070 x 1548
1360 x 1024 1360 x 1024
680 x 512 680 x 512
680 x 510 680 x 510
340 x 250 340 x 250
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP72

In the Snap list, by default, the entry with the highest resolution will always be preset.
You can select a lower resolution in the live mode to increase the frame rate in the
live-image.

Changing the resolution


To alter the resolution, select the value you want from the Snap list.

Coupling the resolution


To couple the live-image's resolution with that used for the snapshots, click the
button with the chain icon. When you've done that, you'll only need to set a new reso-
lution in one place.
• The list in the Live field will then immediately become inactive.
• The value shown will, however, be updated if you set another value in the Snap
field.

6.7 Trimming the image (Subarray)


If you are only interested in a part of the image on display, you can determine that
only a part of the data will be read out of the camera. You can define which part that
is in the image.
The subarray decreases the file size for the acquired images.

This is how you set up a subarray


1) Define which part of the live-image you are interested in. To do so, click the
Toggle Subarray button.
" The image segment last used is displayed.
The displayed subarray
with eight handles for
changing the size

2) Move the Subarray rectangle to the place in the image that interests you. To do
this, click in the rectangle, then with the left mouse button depressed, drag it to
50

the place you want it.


3) Then adjust its size. To do this, drag it by its handles.
" Every image that you then acquire will only show the image segment you've
set.
If the live-image is also to be limited to this segment, select the Apply to Live check
box.
Click the Toggle Subarray button to switch the subarray method on or off.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP72

6.8 Improving the quality of the live-image (Image quality)


You can set the quality for the live image. The exposure times for the live image differ
from each other according to the mode selected. In this way, the camera can
compensate for non-sufficient illumination. The settings medium and high are useful
in case of very long exposure times.
normal The image quality is lower than with the settings medium or high, but the live/image
is updated faster.
medium Image quality and speed are between those for the settings normal and high, respec-
tively.
high The live live-image will be updated more slowly, but the preview image is of highest
quality.

6.9 Configuring the gray value mode (Custom grayscale)


Gray-value images are created by a color camera by combining the image intensities
from all three color channels. Select the Custom gray scale check box, to influence
the calculation method for gray-value images. This is helpful for dark, single colored
samples as they are encountered with fluorescence acquisitions.
On Select the On check box to activate the Custom grayscale mode and use only those
colors for calculating the gray values, whose check boxes (R, G, B) are selected.
When the check box On is cleared, the standard procedure for calculating gray
values is employed.
R, G, B With the check boxes R, G, and B you determine which color components are used
for the calculation of the gray values.
The Custom grayscale check box is only active when you have selected a gray-value
image as Image Type (see also "Image type" on page 54).

6.10 Setting the contrast (Contrast).


With the three Contrast buttons you can modify the image's contrast. When none of
the three buttons appears clicked, the contrast will not be modified when you make
an acquisition.
Click the flat button, on the left, to reduce the contrast. Click the natural> button, in
the middle, to bring about a small contrast adjustment. Click the vivid> button, on the
right, to bring about a contrast enhancement.

51
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP72

6.11 Using the Focus Indicator


Focus Indicator
Use the Focus Indicator to bring the sample into focus. The Focus Indicator calcu-
lates the current image sharpness and enables you to continuously check the focus
in the live-image. To begin with, define a segment on the image, which is to be
brought into focus.
The Focus Indicator has a display that indicates the relative degree of sharpness by
means of two superimposed bars. The red bar shows the sharpest focusing that has
already been achieved. The blue bar shows the sharpness of focus that is being
achieved with the current focusing.

This is how you bring the sample into focus by using the Focus Indicator
1) Go to the place in the sample that interests you.
2) Click the button shown to switch the Focus Indicator on.
" The Focus Indicator will appear above the image.
" A red rectangle, labeled Focus, will appear in the image.
Only the pixels that are within this rectangle will be taken into account for
the measurement of the sharpness of your image.
3) Move the rectangle to the place you want to bring into focus and adapt it's size.
4) Turn the precision focusing knob on your microscope to change the focusing.
While doing this, watch the display in the Focus Indicator.
• The red bar shows the greatest sharpness that has currently been
achieved.
• The blue bar shows the sharpness of focus that is being achieved with the
current focusing.
5) Change the focusing on your microscope until the display is as completely blue
as possible.
Click the Reset Focus Indicator button, to reset the sharpness monitor's bars at a
value of about 70% for a better visualization.

6.12 Toggling between RGB/Grayscale mode


With the DP72 you can acquire both color and gray-value images.
52

Acquiring color images


This button shows the DP72's current color mode. When the button looks like this,
you acquire color images.
Click this button to switch to the grayscale mode.
Acquiring gray-value images
When the button looks like this, you acquire gray-value images.
Click this button to switch to the RGB mode.
Please note that when you are in the DP72's grayscale mode, you can load different
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP72

pseudo color tables. Whether a pseudo color table is to be used, and which table is
to be used, you set in the Acquisition Settings > Camera > General dialog box (see
also "Image type" on page 54).

6.13 Maximizing the live-image


Click the Maximize to Screen button, to have only the live-image displayed on your
monitor. The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN software's user interface will be almost
completely hidden.

Size of the live-image


The live-image's zoom factor won't be changed when you switch to the "Maximize"
mode. When you want to use all of the monitor for the display of the live-image, click
the Fit to Window button, before you switch to the "Maximize" mode (see also "Zoom
image" on page 53).

Switching off the "Maximize" mode


To end the mode and return to the "normal" user interface, use the [Esc] key or click
the Exit button.

6.14 Zooming the image


The image located in the OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN's image window can be zoomed in
or out. To do this, use the button bar located above the image, or your mouse.
In the list field, the image's current magnification will be
shown as a percentage value. You can select other, fixed
preset magnifications, in the list field.

Zooming in the image


Click the Zoom In button to have the image displayed larger. If your mouse is
equipped with a mouse wheel, turn the mouse wheel backwards to zoom in the
image.

53
Zooming out the image
Click the Zoom Out button to have the image displayed smaller. If your mouse is
equipped with a mouse wheel, turn the mouse wheel forwards to zoom out the image.

Displaying the actual camera resolution


Click the Actual Pixels button to have every one of the camera's pixels displayed as
exactly one pixel on your monitor. This setting is equivalent to a magnification of
100%.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP72

Fit to Window
Click the Fit to Window button or select this entry in the list, to have the complete
image displayed at the maximum possible size. The percentage value that this is
equivalent to depends on the camera you use, and the possible setting of the
subarray.

6.15 Changing the camera settings


If you want to change the camera settings, click the Acquisition Settings button. The
dialog box's tree view offers you access to the General, Adjustment, Color, Expo-
sure, Information, and Extras dialog boxes. Select an entry in the tree view to load
the respective dialog box.
Click the Default button to return the settings in the active dialog box to their default
values. The current settings will then be lost.
Confirm your settings with OK.

6.15.1 General
Use this dialog box to make a variety of general camera settings.
54

Image type
With the DP72, the following bit depths can be selected:
• 8-bit grayscale
• 8-bit color
Mirror
Select the Horizontal check box to mirror the image horizontally during acquisition.
Select the Vertical check box to mirror the image vertically during acquisition.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP72

The two forms of mirroring can be combined with each other.

Pseudo Color
You can select a pseudo color display for your live-image. This pseudo color display
can be used in two ways:
• to mark image regions which are underexposed or overexposed
• to color gray-value images
Select the Use high/low pseudo color table option to mark underexposed and over-
exposed regions in the image with color. With this setting underexposed regions are
marked blue, overexposed regions are marked red. You can use the Use high/low
pseudo color table option not only for gray-value images but also for color images.
Select the Use pseudo color table for grayscale images option to provide gray-value
images with color. Click the Pseudo Color button to set the colors for the pseudo
color display. The Use pseudo color table for grayscale images option is only avail-
able for gray-value images.
The display in pseudo color will only apply to the live-image. When you click the Snap
button to acquire an image, a gray-value image will be acquired.

6.15.2 Adjustment
Use this dialog box in the camera settings to change the several camera settings
manually.

55
You will change the settings for all color channels simultaneously. If you want to
accentuate or tone down one particular color channel, use the functions in the Color
dialog box.
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP72

Gamma
Gamma increases, respectively lowers the image contrast, subject to the intensity I
of a pixel, according to the following equation.
1⁄γ
I0 = I
with I = intensity value of the destination image, I0= the intensity value of the source
image.
The values for Gamma vary between 0.1 and 9.99. Values smaller than 1 make the
image altogether darker. At the same time, the contrast in bright areas of the image
will be increased. Values greater than 1 make the image altogether brighter. At the
same time, the contrast in dark areas of the image will be increased.

Sharpness
Use the sharpen filter to increase or decrease the sharpness of the image by edge
enhancement. You change the strength of the sharpen filter by moving its slide
control.
The image gains a smoother appearance when you use negative values and a
sharper one when you use positive values. Raising sharpness will accentuate edges,
but also increases image noise. Entering a value of 0 will result in the sharpen filter
having no effect at all.

Contrast
You can modify the image's contrast by using the Contrast slide control. The higher
the Contrast value is, the more the contrast in the image will be accentuated.
NOTE You can also change the contrast by using the buttons in the DP72 group (see S. 51).

CCD calibration
If you notice a reduction in the image quality, calibrate your camera's CCD with this
function.
56
OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN for the DP72

6.15.3 Color
Use this dialog box in the camera settings to change the camera's color settings
manually.

Gain (White Balance)


With the Gain (White Balance) value, you can weight the individual color channels
separately. Increase, e.g. the R value, to increase the amount of red in the image.
Increase the Saturation in order to see more saturated colors.

Offset (Black Balance)


The value Offset (Black Balance) will be subtracted from all pixels. The image will
then become altogether darker.

6.15.4 Exposure
Use this dialog box in the camera settings to set the maximum possible exposure
times for the image acquisition (see also "Adjusting the exposure time" on page 45).

57
6.15.5 Information
Use this dialog box in the camera settings to display information about your DP72
camera.

6.15.6 Extras
Use this dialog box in the camera settings when you want to trigger the DP72 with an
external device.
Help when problems crop up with your DP72

7 Help when problems crop up with your DP72


You can solve most of your image problems by changing the camera settings. To
open the Acquisition Settings dialog box, click the Acquisition Settings button located
in the camera control.
Problem Possible cause Remedy see
The OLYMPUS DP2-TWAIN The connection between the Switch your PC off, pull out the Camera
won't start. camera and your PC is faulty. power plug, then insert the manual
plugs on the connector cable
firmly into the PCI express
card and the camera.
Switch your PC back on.

The device drivers have not been Check the camera's installa- Camera
correctly installed. tion. manual

The false camera has been Select the correct camera from p. 45
selected in the picklist located this list.
beneath the Snap button in the
Camera Control.

No live-image can be seen. The lamp on your microscope is Switch the lamp on.
not switched on.

No light falls on the camera. Set the light path so that the
light falls on the camera.

Either the illumination has been Check the illumination and the
falsely set, or the sample falsely sample.
positioned.

With a snapshot, the message The connection between the Switch your PC off, pull out the
"Error making a snapshot" camera and your PC is faulty. power plug, then insert the
appears. plugs on the connector cable
firmly into the PCI express
card and the camera.
Switch your PC back on.

The live-image jerks. The frame rate is too low. Reduce the Live Image p. 51
Quality.

Select a lower resolution. p. 49


58
Help when problems crop up with your DP72

Problem Possible cause Remedy see


The image looks too dark. The diaphragm is not wide Open the diaphragm on the
enough open. microscope wider.

The exposure time is too short. Reset the exposure time to p. 46


Automatic.

The sensitivity is too low. Increase the Sensitivity. p. 47

The value for exposure compen- Select the value "0" from the p. 47
sation is negative. Adjustment list, then reset the
exposure time correction.

The exposure time has been Release the Lock Current p. 46


locked at a too low value. Exposure Time button in the
Camera Control.

The measurement area for the Shift the measurement area p. 47


calculation of the exposure time into the segment of the image
is in an area that is too bright. that you want to have correctly
exposed.

The illumination intensity is too Remove ND filters from the


low. light path, then increase the
lamp voltage.

The image looks too bright. The diaphragm is too wide open. Reduce the diaphragm
opening on the microscope.

The exposure time is too long. Reset the exposure time to p. 45


Automatic.

The sensitivity is too high. Reduce the Sensitivity value. p. 47

The value for exposure compen- Select the value "0" from the p. 47
sation is positive. Adjustment list, then reset the
exposure time correction.

The exposure time has been Release the Lock Current p. 46


locked at a too high value. Exposure Time button in the
Camera Control.

The measurement area for the Shift the measurement area p. 47

59
calculation of the exposure time into the segment of the image
is in an area that is too dark. that you want to have correctly
exposed.

The illumination intensity is too Move ND filters into the light


high. path, then decrease the lamp
voltage.
Help when problems crop up with your DP72

Problem Possible cause Remedy see


The colors look peculiar. The white balance was not Repeat the white balance. p. 48
carried out correctly.

With brightfield acquisitions, a Switch the black balance off.


black balance has been carried
out.

The PC's color settings are incor- Set the PC's color depth to at
rect. least 24 bit.

Grayscale images look pecu- Color channels have been deac- Switch the Custom gray scale p. 51
liar. tivated. off.

The images are blurred. Your microscope has not been Correct the focus setting.
correctly focused.

The condenser's aperture stop is Close the aperture stop


too wide open. further.

The iris diaphragm is not Set the iris diaphragm so that


correctly adjusted. your image exactly reproduces
the image area.

Optical components of your Clean your microscope's


microscope, or the camera's optical components and the
protective glass, are dirty. camera's protective glass.

Microscope and/or camera are Mount your microscope and


exposed to vibrations. camera in such a way that they
are no longer exposed to vibra-
tions.

Images with the resolution Microscope and/or camera are Mount your microscope and
2040 x 1536 and 4080 x 3072 exposed to vibrations. camera in such a way that they
are blurred. are no longer exposed to vibra-
tions.
60
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