Pixelina
The problem
In almost every lab where there is a a microscope, there is a need to document images. But the needs varies largely for different labs and organizations. In the easiest case you probably just want to capture one or a few images, save it to file, and later use them in some kind of report. In the more advanced scenario, you might have requirement to document all samples analyzed, with thousands or even hundred of thousands images per year.
Almost certainly you want to share your images with others and even with other labs or departments in your organization.
Our products can do all the above. This article is to explain which products might suit you best.
MULTI FOCUS MODULE
INCREASED FOCAL DEPTH
High-magnification microscopy has a fundamental limitation: depth of field shrinks as magnification increases, making it impossible to get every part of a non-flat surface in focus in a single image. The MultiFocus module solves this by merging a stack of images taken at different focal planes into one fully sharp result — with no motorised stage or Z-drive required. Capture a few images manually, add them to the stack, and watch the final image sharpen progressively as each plane is added.
PCB chip under microscope. Left: substrate out of focus, top layer sharp — a typical depth-of-field limitation. Right: three focal planes stacked in Picsara — all layers sharp in one merged image.
Key Features
● No Special Hardware Needed
No motorised stage or Z-drive required. Capture images manually at each focal plane and drag them into the stack.
● Progressive Sharpening
The merged result updates as each image is added — you see the image sharpen in real time as you build the stack.
● Stereo Microscope Support
Corrects the lateral image shift caused by the off-axis optical path of stereo microscopes. Also handles small mechanical misalignments between captures.
● Full Geometric Correction
Aligns, rotates and flattens each frame to compensate for perspective shift — producing a geometrically consistent merged image.
● Flexible Stack Size
Works with as few as two images or as many as needed. The right number depends on the surface relief of your sample.
● Output Ready for Further Analysis
The merged image can be used directly in reports or passed to other Picsara modules for measurement and analysis.