In the following chapters you will learn how to set-up and run multi-channel experiments quick and easy.

MicroToolBox (MTB)

Make sure that you work with a fully motorized microscope system. In advance all microscope components (e.g. objectives, filters, etc.) must be configured correctly in the MicroToolBox (MTB) software.

There are two variants for setting up multi-channel experiments. The first variant uses Smart Setup, while the second variant uses the Channels tool. Both variants have similarities and differences, which are presented in the following overview:

Commonalities

  • Fluorescent dyes and transmitted light techniques can be selected from a database.
  • Hardware settings for motorized microscopes, which take the properties of the selected dye and the available microscope hardware into account, can be created automatically.
  • Bases for experiments can be created using both variants and experienced users can optimize settings further.

Differences

Smart Setup

Channels tool

A maximum of 4 camera channels, 8 confocal channels and transmitted light channels are available

No restriction on the number and type of channels

Offers up to 3 proposals of variants of the experiment (depending on the selected combination of dyes and available hardware)

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Offers more optimization of experiment settings by using the Motif buttons

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Graphic overview of the expected signal strength for the selected dyes

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Graphic overview of the expected spectral crosstalk with the selected dye combinations

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Display of the excitation and emission spectra of the selected dyes

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Channels can be configured for dyes that are not supported (or not supported sufficiently well) by the available hardware