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

Ch. 17 – Using Other Mac Imaging Application in Basic ModeManual Exposure OptionsExposure Time(s)Use the slider-bar to specify an exposure time (or times) between .04 ms and 526.746 sec.When you specify an exposure time, the camera skips the automated exposure sequence that takes placewhen you open the live image view – i.e., the 3rd Party interface. This is very useful in cases whereexposure times are lengthy, as with fluorescence samples.GainEnter the precise gain that the camera will use for an image capture. Use the slider-bar to select one of thegain options: 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16. The gain value displays to the right of the slider-bar. Refer to the “Auto-Gain Limit ” and “Gain” sections of Ch. 5 – Preparing to Take a Picture for details on gain and exposure.GammaThe manual Gamma adjustment is identical to the auto Gamma adjustment (see above.)White BalanceWhite balance is the ratio of red, green, and blue gains necessary to achieve the proper color rendition foran image. Many factors impact the coloration of an image capture, including lamp voltage, the colorationof the glass used in the slide, and the coloration of the glass used in the lenses of the microscope’sobjectives. To minimize the impact of these factors, use the White Balance feature. When you perform awhite balance calculation, SPOT samples the color of the light from your light source after it has passedthrough the slide and the objective, and then calculates the red, green, and blue gains needed to produceimages where the white areas are white and the color areas are true.You should perform a new white balance calculation when:• Starting a new image capture session.• Changing the lamp voltage.• Switching to a different objective on the microscope.To perform a white balance, follow these steps:1. Set the illumination and the objective that you will use for the image capture.2. If you have not done so, select your Image Type (see above). Each Image Type has its own set ofwhite balance values. Any white balance values that you compute for an image type remain linked tothat image type until you compute new values. When selecting a new image type, remember that youwill be using the white balance values linked to that image type.3. Click on the White Balance button.4. Show the camera a sample of white light. This step varies according to microscopy technique andImage Type (sample), as shown in the table below:306 User Guide to the SPOT Insight Camera