I am considering buying Image-Pro plus software to do some of the things a lot of you have mentioned in the past : feature counting on prints/images, digitalization of negatives, image enhancement and printing.

The system we are thinking of will be attached to a Nomarski microscope for optical work ( defect counting of etched wafer surfaces ), and to a seperate camera mounted on a light-box to digitalize negatives and prints. We have not made a final decision on :

1. resolution of cameras to buy.
2. black and white vs. color.
3. type of printer/s to have available ( the company suggests a Kodak for high quality work )

Anyone out there using a similar setup to count/size and digitalize ? Anyone using Image Pro Plus ?

Lucio Mule'Stagno
e- mail LUCIOM@NEWTON.UMSL.EDU

Detection of features in Nomarski (DIC) images can be tricky. Although your eye will see them, thresholding may be difficult because of the "shadowing effect" that DIC has. Even selection by color can be difficult. I had poor results thresholding transmitted light DIC (biological); better results with reflected light DIC (ceramics).

We use Optimas, an alternative to Image-Pro for Windows based image processing (color and b/w). You should also do a serious evaluation of frame grabber boards, including how well they work with your I.A. system. Our first system has an Imaging Technology CFG board, which was pricey but worked well. Our second system has a Coreco TCX, which has some timing delays with Optimas.

No commercial endorsement should be implied.
David Rothbard
David.Rothbard@ipst.edu