take pictures with the Nikon inverted scopes using ImagePro

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This protocol explains how to: take pictures with the Nikon inverted scopes using ImagePro. 

Protocol written by: Barbara Lom

  1. Turn on the power to the microscope and check that the light is directed to the eyepieces by setting the dial on the upper right hand side to the “bino” setting.
  2. Use the 10X objective to find and focus on your sample.  Adjust the light intensity is adjusted with the dial on the lower/front/left of the microscope.  If you are using phase contrast optics make sure the phase ring is in place (slider near the top of the microscope).
  3. Adjust the focus and lighting to get your best phase contrast image.
  4. Divert light from oculars to the camera by turning the dial from “bino” to “photo” setting.
  5. Turn the camera power on (small beige box).
  6. Turn on the PC and log into Windows.
  7. Open ImagePro+ (Microscope Icon – upper left side of desktop).
  8. Select the “complete” option and click “OK”.  Ignore the registration request and close the macro player window if it pops up.
  9. Click on the camera icon to open the Nikon camera controller window.  Ignore the VPF savings waning if it pops up.
  10. Click on “basic dialog” button in the bottom of the camera window to reset any previous settings.
  11. Click on the “Calc Auto Exp” button
  12. Click on the “Auto Set” button to open the white balance box.
  13. In the white balance box click on the “calculate” button.
  14. Leave the “Live Preview” window open, but you may want to move it to the lower right portion of your screen.
  15. Click on the “more” button at the bottom of the camera controller window and change the “capture depth” setting to “8-bit mono”
  16. Adjust focus, lighting, location, etc. to get best possible image.  (The camera image may look slightly different than what you saw through the oculars.)
  17. Click on the “snap” button to capture the image.  An image named “untitled000” will appear after a second or two (your captured image may be located behind your preview/camera windows).  
  18. Save your image to the computer – use the default tiff format and feel free to change the file name to something more meaningful.
  19. If you want to change the exposure time or gain parameters for image capture those adjustments can be made by clicking on the “more” button and adjusting the appropriate parameters. Important note – the exposure and gain can be set differentially for the preview and regular images – make sure you know what you’re adjusting. 
  20. When you are done make sure you log off the computer, turn off the camera power, the microscope power, clean up the microscope and bench area, and cover the microscope.

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