LSM 710 and LSM 780
LEFT TOOL AREA AND HARDWARE CONTROL TOOLS
Systems
Acquisition Tab
Carl Zeiss
02/2010 M60-1-0025
e
87
Fast Z Line
performs a fast XZ scan for overviews using a continuous movement of the microscope focus
(only in
Line
scan mode and not with the Piezo). The stack size is retained; the interval is adapted
depending on the scan speed. Not available in
Frame
mode.
The
Z-Stack Navigation
displays in a graphical manner the navigation in the Rang of the Z-Stack. The
blue slice is the current focus position. This interface displays the actual position of the current focus also
while scanning. By dragging the blue slice with the cursor, the current focus position changes
accordingly. This tool might also be used for defining the first and last position for the Z-Stack.
It is not relevant that the first and last position in the software match the absolute first and last
position. The microscope will always move against gravity when acquiring the stack ignoring the
assignment first and last.
When using an Axio Imager.Z2 the precision of the Z-Stack position can be optimized for very
critical applications by taking care of the following steps: The approach to the first and the last
slice when marking the positions should be made from the same direction as the Z-Stack is
finally acquired. As the Z-Stack acquisition is always performed against gravity it is
recommended to lower the stage, then approach the first slice by moving the stage up towards
the objective, mark it, then go on focusing to the last slice and mark it. During this process be
sure to move the stage in this one direction only, do not refocus.
To obtain best image quality with Z-Stacks and scanning stages which are critical regarding the
focus impulse, a waitstate can be activated in the
Maintain Tab
->
LSM Options
->
Hardware
menu. Such a waitstate is only beneficial at certain acquisition speeds and not needed by
default.
5.2.12.2
How to Proceed Setting a Z-Stack
Using Center Mode
The
Center
mode (Fig. 77) allows setting the
Range of the Z-Stack in relation to the current
Focus Position
which is indicated as
Offset
. In
addition it is possible to use the image of a XZ scan
(line scan in Z) for positioning the Z-Stack range.
This tool then also allows setting the first and last
slice independently from each other and adjusting
the center position of the range according to these
settings. You should have an idea about the size of
the stack when using this mode. It is useful when
several Z-Stacks of the same range should be
acquired at different positions within the
specimen, as the whole range of the stack can be
set to a different position at once using the Offset
function.
The values for
Number of Slices
and
Interval
are
taken over from any settings done in First/Last
mode. The
Offset
defines the
Center
position of
the stack in relation to the
Focus Position
.
When defining a specific
Offset
the range of the Z-Stack is shifted to a different position in Z. Pressing
the
button moves the actual
Focus Position
to the
Center
position and acquires an image at
Fig. 77
Z-Stack tool Center mode with Z-Stack
Navigation displayed