Nikon Software NIS PLUG-IN (EDF) (65557)

The Nikon NIS Plug-in <EDF> is an additional software module for Nikon’s NIS-Elements imaging platform, designed to enhance microscope imaging by enabling the creation of sharp, all-in-focus images from Z-stack data. This plug-in is widely used in research, laboratory, and industrial environments where samples have uneven surfaces or require detailed focus across varying depths. By combining the most focused regions from multiple images taken at different focal planes, the EDF (Extended Depth of Focus) plug-in produces a single, high-contrast 2D image or even 3D representations. This capability is especially valuable for documenting, analyzing, and presenting complex samples that cannot be captured in full detail with a single focal plane.

The EDF (Extended Depth of Focus) plug-in allows users to merge a series of images captured at different Z-axis positions into one fully focused image. This is achieved by selecting the sharpest regions from each image in the Z-stack and combining them into a single, in-focus projection.

Key Functions:

• Combines Z-stack images to create an all-in-focus 2D image

• Supports the creation of stereovision and 3D surface images for virtual 3D visualization

• Offers tools for aligning Z-stack sequences to correct for hardware shifts during image acquisition

• Enables users to view the result as a standard color or grayscale image, a 3D model, or a 3D anaglyph suitable for viewing with 3D glasses

• Integrates with NIS-Elements’ measurement and analysis tools for further quantitative evaluation of the focused image

Compatibility:
Works as a plug-in with Nikon NIS-Elements software, including Advanced Research (AR), Basic Research (BR), and Documentation (D) versions. Compatible with ND2 file format and supports multi-dimensional imaging workflows.

Applications:

• Biological and materials science imaging

• Documentation of samples with uneven or layered surfaces

• Research requiring high-contrast, fully focused images for analysis or publication

• Creation of 3D models from microscope data

Main Features:

• Automated alignment and focus stacking of Z-series image data

• User-friendly interface with dedicated EDF commands in the software menu

• Flexible output options, including 2D projections and virtual 3D images

• Seamless integration with other NIS-Elements modules and database management tools

This plug-in is essential for anyone using Nikon microscopes to document or analyze specimens with varying surface heights, ensuring that every detail is captured clearly in a single image or 3D model.