1/11/96

In response to recent discussion on this listserver regarding image analysis, I am forwarding description of newly available, FREE image analysis software, that was specifically designed to do for Windows users what NIH Image does for Mac users, and much more. I recently saw a demonstration of it and was impressed. Most impressive is that it is available absolutely FREE. It can be downloaded on the web from the Dental Diagnostic Science Dept of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (ddxds.uthscsa.edu). This program was released the same day as Windows95 & has already been distributed worldwide. Soon to be released is a portion of the program that will make possible quantitation of the gels that molecular biologists love to run.

Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 16:03:08 -0500 (CDT)
From: "S. Brent Dove"
Subject: Re: Image Analysis
To: "Nancy K.R. Smith"

Hello Nancy,

Here is a basic description of UTHSCSA ImageTool. Feel free to distribute this to any colleagues in the microscopy world.

UTHSCSA IMAGETOOL OVERVIEW

UTHSCSA ImageTool (IT) is a free image processing and analysis program for Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows NT. IT can acquire, display, edit, analyze, process, compress, save and print gray scale and color images. IT can read and write over 22 common file formats including BMP, PCX, TIF, GIF and JPEG. Image analysis functions include dimensional (distance, angle, perimeter, area) and gray scale measurements (point, line and area histogram with statistics). ImageTool supports standard image processing functions such as contrast manipulation, sharpening, smoothing, edge detection, median filtering and spatial convolutions with user-defined convolution masks. IT also has built-in macro capabilities that allow the user to record repetitive tasks and playback saved macros to automate image analysis.

ImageTool was designed with an open architecture that provides extensiblity via a variety of plug-ins. Support for image acquisition using either Adobe Photoshop plug-ins or Twain scanners is built-in. Custom analysis and processing plug-ins can be developed using the software development kit (SDK) provided (with source code). This approach makes it possible to solve almost any data acquisition or analysis problem with IT.

ImageTool provides for geometric transformations such as rotate, flip vertical, flip horizontal and magnification up to four levels. All analysis and processing functions are available at any magnification factor. The program is a multiple document interface (MDI) application supporting any number of windows (images) simultaneously.

Spatial calibration is available to indicate real world dimensional measurements such as millimeters, microns, feet, miles, etc. for linear and area. Density or gray scale calibration can be done relative to radiation or optical density (OD) standards.

IT version 1.1 now provides for object analysis and classification with over 20 morphological descriptors such as: area/perimeter, roundness, ferret diameter, compactness, major/minor axis length, centroid and many others. Any of these factors can be used automatically categorized and count objects within the image.

ImageTool ver 1.1 supports the Data Translation DT3155 frame grabber for Windows NT. Other frame grabber board will be added in the coming months.

ImageTool was written using Borland's C++ version 4.5 and the source code for the executable is available free of charge. IT was developed in the Department of Dental Diagnostic Science at The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas. The program was developed by C. Donald Wilcox, S. Brent Dove, W. Doss McDavid and David B. Greer.

S. Brent Dove
Email: dove@uthscsa.edu

Hello Nancy,

I am being inundated with email. Please update your listserver with the following information. About how to get UTHSCSA ImageTool IT is available via anonymous ftp at

ftp://maxrad6.uthscsa.edu

Please do not send email to dove@uthscsa.edu

S. Brent Dove
Email: dove@uthscsa.edu

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