chalk tip #20: systematically viewing all of a slide

In tip #19 we talked about tracking where you’ve been while viewing, but did you know?  You can use ImageScope’s Tracker feature to systematically view all of a slide.  Here’s how:

1. Open a digital slide, select View | Tracker, and click the red Record button to start Tracking.  See tip #19 for details.

2. At the right side of the Tracker, there is a green arrow labeled “Next Un-viewed Region”.

Just keep clicking this button and ImageScope will show you the entire slide, view-by-view.

Each time you click the green arrow, ImageScope will take you to the next un-viewed region of the slide, starting at the top of the tissue area and navigating through the slide in a Z-pattern (pretty much the way you would read a book, going across each row and then down to the next one).

As you view regions, the thumbnail will be updated to show you where you’ve been and the location of your current view.

The Tracker will skip “glass” areas and each view slightly overlaps the adjoining views, so you won’t miss anything.

 

If the sample has multiple parts, each section of tissue is navigated completely before moving on to the next section.

 

When all regions of the slide have been viewed, ImageScope will reward you with a little beep.  You’re done :)

This feature is especially useful on TMA slides and others with multiple sections.

Oh, and I should mention, you can hit the Space Bar as an alternative to clicking the green arrow.  Just keep hitting the Space Bar to navigate through the entire slide, view-by-view.  Really cool.

There is more to be said about Tracking but that’s it for today.  Please try it, you’ll like it!