Loading the First Image Volume

The first image volume has the following special properties:

• No other images can be displayed until the first image volume has been loaded or imported
• All subsequent image volumes must have the same dimensions as the first image volume and will be discarded if they do not
• Loading or importing a new first image volume will cause all other images to be discarded if they do not match the dimensions of the newly loaded first image volume
• Only the first image volume can be modified or saved

Images must be in Analyze or MINC format to be loaded directly; all other file formats must be imported rather than loaded. MultiTracer is able to automatically detect when Analyze image headers and images need to be byteswapped, so images from PC's can be viewed on Sun workstations and vice versa. MINC format files are stored in an intrinsically platform independent format.

To load the first volume image:

• From the main MultiTracer window "File" menu, choose "Open First Volume ..."
• In the "Open" dialog box, choose either the 'Analyze File Filter' or the 'MINC File Filter' depending on which type of file you want to open.
• Select the .hdr file (for Analyze files) or .mnc file (for MINC files) that you want to open from the "Open" dialog box. If the file is not in the current directory, the popup menu in the upper left of the dialogue box will let you move up the directory tree, or you can double click on a subdirectory icon to move down the directory tree.
• Once the file is selected, click the "Open" button in the dialogue box to load the file.
• Large files may take several seconds to load; a status bar may appear to show your progress.
• Once the file is loaded, the image should appear in the display region. If no prior image has been loaded, MultiTracer will automatically take you to a plane in the middle of the image and will adjust the intensity of the display to a (usually) reasonable value. If the display appears black, this may reflect a problem with the automatic intensity adjustment, and you may need to set the intensity manually.

If you have already loaded or imported a file and choose to load a new first image volume with different dimensions, any tracings of structures will be discarded (you will be given a opportunity to save them first). Nonetheless, it is always a good idea to save your traces before you load or import a new image.

If you have previously loaded or imported a file and choose to load a new first image volume with the same dimensions, you will be given the option to discard or to retain any existing traces.

Modified: April 22, 2003