1. You have configured the general settings for setting up a tile experiment (experiment created, at least one channel defined, Tiles dimension activated).
  2. To create a global focus surface, you need the Tiles & Positions module.
  3. You are on the Acquisition tab in the Tiles tool.
  1. Open the Sample Carrier section.
  2. Click on the Select... button.
  3. The Select Template dialog opens.
  4. Select the sample carrier template that you want to use.
  5. Click on Options and select Copy And Edit....
  6. A copy of the existing template is generated and opened in the sample carrier editor.
  7. To distribute support points across the sample carrier template, open the Global Support Points section.
  8. Select the containers in which you want to create global support points. To do this, press the Ctrl key and click on the containers.
  9. Click on the Distribute One Support Point For Each Selected Container button.
  10. One support point is assigned to each selected container.

  11. If you use a sample carrier without containers (e.g. slide), use the Distribute button instead, to distribute support points on the basis of columns and rows.

  12. The support points are distributed automatically across the sample carrier.
  13. You can add further support points manually using the Add button .

  14. Only create support points where you can bring the sample into focus (within the containers). This is the only way that you can determine and setup the Z-values of the support points later. The assignment of container-based global support points to the center of the container is fixed i.e. they cannot be moved. If the surface of your sample carrier is tilted but even, you will need at least 4 support points for a solid calculation. The more irregular the surface, the more support points you should distribute.

  15. To close the Editor window, click on OK.
  16. To select the edited sample carrier template, click on OK.
  17. If you wish to re-edit the global support points at any time, click on the Edit icon in the sample carrier section to open the sample carrier editor again.
  18. To calibrate the sample carrier, click on the Calibrate button and follow the wizard.
  1. You have successfully distributed support points across a sample carrier template and have selected and calibrated it.