This module enables you to acquire high-resolution images through automatic scanning of predefined tile regions and positions of a sample. The regions of tile images and individual positions can be combined freely and a motorized stage allows automatic scanning of specimens. If you are working with a manual stage, you can still manually move the stage to different positions and acquire data at each position. This process is not automated and requires to manually adjust the stage position for each new acquisition point. Such manual positioning can be less efficient and less precise. The Panorama functionality helps in a semi- automatic way to acquire overview images with a manual stage, see also Panorama. For a full automatic scanning of predefined tile regions and positions of a sample, it is necessary to have a motorized stage on the system.

Overlapping individual images can be combined into an overview image using “stitching” algorithms. The module supports the use of sample carriers, focus correction maps, stitching and shading correction, and is compatible with Software Autofocus. Some functionality is generally available, for the full set of features you need the dedicated license for the module, see Licensing and Functionalities of Tiles & Positions.

Acquiring Tiles with different z

If you want to acquire tile regions or positions with different z-positions, you need to use a suitable focus strategy, see Using focus strategies.

Automatic Focus Strategy Selection

When you activate Tiles for the first time in any experiment, the software automatically selects the suitable focus strategy Use Z Values/ Focus Surface defined in Tiles Setup. This focus strategy is only available if you have licensed the Tiles & Positions functionality and it can be optimized with the Focus Strategy Wizard in the Focus Strategy tool, see Focus Strategy Wizard and Focus Strategy Tool. In the case that you do not have licensed the Tiles & Positions functionality, ZEN still selects the appropriate focus strategy for you.