SPOT 4.1 Basic and Advanced Software Manual for SPOT Insight ...

Ch. 7 - Taking a PictureGet Flatfield ImageThe Flatfield option can be used to correct for display problems associated with uneven intensity orcoloration in illumination, or to correct for artifacts (e.g., dust) in the optical system. For a more detaileddiscussion of the theory and benefits of the Flatfield correction process, refer to Chapter 5, Preparing toTake a Picture.Note: Flatfield correction with the SPOT camera refers only to the correction of unevenlighting. It should not be confused with the correction of optical field flatness.To use Flatfield Correct, follow these steps:1. Ensure that the specimen is under the desired objective and in focus.2. From the Camera menu, select Get Flatfield Image.The Get Flatfield dialog box appears.3. Choose a number of frames to average. Largernumbers of frames will increase the accuracy of theflatfield correction, but will also increase the lengthof time it takes to create the flatfield image. Thedefault number of frames to average is 3.4. Remove the slide from the field of view.5. Click on Begin. The program will acquire the number of frames that you specified.6. When the program finishes acquiring the frames, it will prompt you to block all of the light to thecamera. This can be accomplished by installing the dust cap that was supplied with the camera orby adjusting the microscope’s optical path. After the light is blocked, click on OK. The programcomputes another frame.7. After the program computes this frame, it prompts youto name and save the resulting flatfield correction file:8. Click on OK.a. Enter a name in the File Name box. Becauseflatfield image files are different for eachobjective, you might want to name the fileaccording to the objective's magnification(e.g., 10x).b. Specify the image setup that will beassociated with this flatfield image file whenusing the Flatfield Correct option. Thecurrent setup is the default. When you open the setup, the Flatfield Correct option isselected.Note: The default file location varies, depending on where you installed the SPOT program.9. Move the specimen back into the field of view, and perform the image capture. Refer to Ch. 7 –Taking a Picture, for more details on the image capture process.132 User Guide to the SPOT Insight Camera